Less than half of depression sufferers see doctors

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems on the planet and affects millions of people worldwide.

With the onset of the economic downturn seeing a larger number of people go bankrupt and firms go out of business, the number suffering from depression has increased, though new research reveals that the majority of these are not seeking help for the condition.

According to a new study conducted at St Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, Canada, less than 50 per cent of those with the mental health problem seek out the help of a doctor or healthcare professional.

Dr Arlene Bierman, a physician at the hospital and principal investigator of the study, told private health cover holders that the statistics prove that many people are not receiving the treatment they need.

"As a leading cause of disease-related disability among women and men, depression puts a tremendous emotional and financial burden on people, their families and our healthcare system," she explained.

"While there is a lot that is known about how to improve depression, we need to apply this to our work with patients if we want to improve the diagnosis and management of depression," Ms Bierman added.

She added that as depression is currently suffered by 154 million people worldwide and is one of the leading causes of lost work days, increased disability claims and greater use of healthcare services, it is important that something is done to increase the number of patients who are receiving help for it.

The expert told medical health insurance customers that follow-up treatment which identifies any potential issues and helps to remedy them before they get worse can also improve the quality of life for the many sufferers.

By James McCann

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