Because it is frequently dismissed or ignored, depression remains underdiagnosed, and those living with it who fail to seek proper treatment frequently seek out destructive remedies which only worsen their situations. For example, while women are four times as likely as men to suffer from depression, men are significantly more likely to go undiagnosed, which leads to sharply higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse. Many experts also report that the rate of suicide among men is higher than it is among women (four times higher, to be exact), largely because so many men choose to ignore symptoms of depression.
The elderly are also susceptible to severe depression as they are often forced into isolation and loneliness and can be the victims of abuse and neglect. The inevitable fact of aging and the loss of physical capabilities and certain senses are commonly noted as sources of depression among the elderly. Many people simply accept this as a natural part of "getting older" without taking into account the emotional toll on the individual. Thus, the elderly are also less likely to receive necessary treatment for mental health issues.
The good news is that the tendency to sweep depression under the rug is dissipating, albeit slowly. It may simply be a result of the concerted effort by mental health professionals to make sure those who need help know that it is available; it may also have something to do with the recent cultural shift in which prominent public figures have admitted to serious bouts of depression and the need to address it directly. Whatever the reason, there now exist more proven methods of combating depression and other mental ailments than ever before, including the traditional therapy, medication, and self-coaching techniques.
Healthcare providers are also catching up with the public need for mental health maintenance, offering more coverage for counseling services and antidepressant medication, which was previously subject to stern constraints and verification. Some insurance carriers have been pushed into dealing with depression in light of the mounting evidence that depression not only takes a toll on individual physical health but also has been linked to common diseases like diabetes and can exacerbate conditions if left untreated.
The important thing to understand about depression is that it is
manageable — this doesn't mean it will necessarily go away, but it does mean that those who suffer from it need not lead lives of constant anxiety or worry and that depression is not a lifestyle.
