Depression

Abstract

HEALTH ISSUE: Depression causes significant distress or impairment in physical, social, occupational and other key areas of functioning. Women are approximately twice as likely as men to experience depression. Psychosocial factors likely mediate the risks for depression incurred by biological influences. KEY FINDINGS: Data from the 1999 National Population Health Survey show that depression is more common among Canadian women, with an annual self-reported incidence of 5.7% compared with 2.9% in men. The highest rates of depression are seen among women of reproductive age. Predictive factors for depression include previous depression, feeling out of control or overwhelmed, chronic health problems, traumatic events in childhood or young adulthood, lack of emotional support, lone parenthood, and low sense of mastery. Although depression is treatable, only 43% of depressed women had consulted a health professional in 1998/99 and only 32.4% were taking antidepressant medication. People with lower education, inadequate income, and fewer contacts with a health professional were less likely to receive depression treatment. DATA GAPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: A better understanding of factors that increase vulnerability and resilience to depression is needed. There is also a need for the collection and analysis of data pertaining to: prevalence of clinical anxiety; the prevalence of depression band 12 months after childbirth factors contributing to suicide contemplation and attempts among adolescent girls, current treatments for depression and their efficacy in depressed women at different life stages; interprovincial variation in depression rates and hospitalizations and the impact and costs of depression on work, family, individuals, and society.

Figure 1

Prevalence of depression by sex and province, 1998–1999 Source: National Population Health Survey, 1998–1999

Figure 2

Hospital admissions for depression, by sex and province (age ≥ 15 years), 1999 Source: Hospital Morbidity Database, 1998–1999

Figure 3

Age-specific hospitalization rates for suicide attempts, by sex, Canada, 1998–1999 Source: Hospital Morbidity Database, 1998–1999 (Health Rep 2002;13(2))

Figure 4

Age-standardized hospitalization rates for suicide attempts,* by sex and province, 1998 Source: Hospital Morbidity Database, 1998–1999 (Health Rep 2002;13(2))

Figure 5

Age-specific suicide rates, by sex, Canada, 1998 Source: Canadian Vital Statistics Database (Health Rep 2002;13(2))

Figure 6

Age-standardized suicide rates,* by sex and province, 1998 Source: Canadian Vital Statistics Database, 1998 (Health Rep 2002;13(2))

Figure 7

Unadjusted prevalence of depression, by sex and age group, Canada, 1994–1995: proportion depressed in previous 12 months. Source: National Population Health Survey, 1994–1995 (Health Rep 1996;7(4)).

Figure 8

Adjusted odds ratio of a depressive episode* in 1996–1997 and/or 1998–1999, by selected characteristics in 1994–1995, Canada excluding territories Source: National Population Health Survey, longitudinal file, 1994–1995 to 1998–1999 (Health Rep 1999;11(3))