Depression is a more disruptive condition than potentially life-threatening diseases like cancer and heart disease, a survey revealed today.
According to the Mind Yourself - The Lundbeck Mental Health Barometer, 96 per cent of people believe the illness is disruptive for those who suffer from it, compared with 95 per cent for cancer and 92 per cent for heart disease.
Some 71 per cent also feel depression sufferers are stigmatised, with 67 per cent saying it would be difficult to talk to a doctor about it.
It is estimated that some 400,000 people in Ireland suffer from depression.
With the numbers in their 20s and 30s experiencing depression growing from 14 per cent in 2008 to 22 per cent this year, health experts said more needed to be done to tackle the stigma surrounding it.
GP Eamonn Shanahan said: “Depression is a common condition in Ireland, as most of the respondents agreed, and with rising unemployment levels and an unstable economic climate, it is easy to see why more people are finding depression to have a negative impact on their lives.”
“While it is encouraging to see that people are talking about depression more, which suggests that those with depression are less inclined to conceal their condition from family and friends, there is still a lot more to do in order to fight the high level of stigma attached to depression in Ireland.”
Dr Shanahan said the majority of people do not understand the condition and urged people to talk to healthcare professionals.
“Depression can affect anyone, at any time, so it is vital that those experiencing symptoms talk to a healthcare professional as depression can be treated effectively with medication and/or psychotherapy,” he said.
The survey also looked at perceptions towards anxiety disorder and found 37 per cent of people believe there is social stigma attached to the condition.