Depression Due To Poverty Affects Men More Than Women, Says Study

Depression has emerged as a common and serious health issue around the world. The rising number of people who battle depression every year is alarming. According to the World Health Organisation, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and has a major contribution to the global burden of disease. More than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression across the globe. The death toll due to suicides has reached up to 8,00,000 which mostly includes people between 15-29 years old. While personal issues are a major trigger for depression, social factors also evidently have a big role to play.  Some of the major triggers apart from these are unemployment, bereavement and psychological trauma.  It also said that women are more likely to suffer from depression compared to men. However, another study has found that depression stimulated by poverty affects more men than women.

The study that investigated the risk of depression among men and women showed that in UK, men living in a deprived area and conditions are 50 percent more likely to be depressed compared to men living in a good condition

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Depression is the leading cause of disability around the world. It is caused by both individual and community-related stressors. 
• According to a study men living in deprivation and poverty are 50 percent more prone to depression compared to men living in good conditions.
• Further, the significant effect of poverty on the mental health of women is not so high. 
• Women are depressed more due to issues in their family relationships, marriage etc.
  

However, according to a recent study published by the World Economic Forum, there are causes of depression that go beyond the individual level. The study says that the deprived conditions of a community where a person resides have a significant effect on depression. Furthermore, the depression caused by such agents affect men more than women; women are rarely affected by the area they live in. The study says, “men are more affected by “failures at key instrumental tasks, such as expected work achievements and failures to provide adequately for the family”.

Also Read: Know The Real Stories of Dealing with Depression: An Excerpt

Men more depressed by residential issues

The study that investigated the risk of depression among men and women showed that in UK, men living in a deprived area and conditions are 50 percent more likely to be depressed compared to men living in a good condition. Living in a deprived area can be easily connected to poverty, financial crisis, unemployment lack of food and other basic necessities. No such significant effect was recorded in the mental health of women due to residential issues. Subsequently, men are prone to suicides three times more than women due to depression caused by deprivation.

Many men in the UK and other parts of the world still consider financial responsibilities and providing for the family as their primary duty.

What causes depression in women?

The study further stated that women are prone to depression caused by problems in relationships and social networking they are part of. Lack of parental warmth, low marital satisfaction among others are some of the stimulants that affect women’s mental health. The study by World Economic Forum also says that women are more at the risk of experiencing anxiety, if not depression, compared to men living in deprived areas.

Also Read: Why Do Husbands Still Struggle To Accept Wife’s Big Paycheck?

What does this mean?

On a larger scale, there is a need to investigate the root cause of such a high rate of depression among men living in deprived areas. Many people around the world are living in deprivation, efforts can be directed towards changing the condition. It further denotes that many men in the UK and other parts of the world still consider financial responsibilities and providing for the family as their primary duty. Overall, if the reason behind depression is known, but we do need to find a way to encourage people suffering from it to seek help.

Picture Credit: Unsplash

Rudrani Kumari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.