Depression is a serious psychological disorder. According to the World Health Organization’s previous survey data, there are about 350 million people suffering from depression worldwide, the prevalence rate in Sweden is 6. 16%, the United States is 4. 45%, China is 3. 02%, and this number also has the trend of increasing year by year. In China, there are more than 100 million people suffering from various types of mental illnesses, and about 40 million people suffer from depression, so the situation is not optimistic. Therefore, we call for and promote national care for depressed groups and attention to depression treatment.
According to the survey, most people only have some understanding of depression or know about it. There are very few individuals who know a lot about depression. Regardless of education level, age, or gender, there is little difference in the level of knowledge about depression. Half of these individuals were first exposed to depression through celebrities or other popular events, and about 50% of individuals were first exposed to depression primarily through celebrities or other popular events, but about 90% of the population understood that depressed individuals can commit suicide in severe cases. Among the reasons for exposure to depression, those who were exposed to depression because they or someone close to them was suffering from depression (28%), and those who learned about it through courses, lectures or books were very few (24%). This shows that the education and popularization of depression in China is still relatively backward.
What do you do when you are depressed? The results of the survey are worrying – only 5% of people will seek help from professional organizations or individuals. The remaining 95 percent will either suffer independently in silence or find relatives and friends to talk to. Another statistic worthy of attention is that only about 10% of depression patients receive systematic treatment, and most of them do not receive systematic treatment. This indicates that the current status of treatment for depression in the country is not satisfactory. Analysis of possible reasons revealed that 70-80% of people reported that they were not sure whether there were (or were not) institutions and individuals available for psychotherapy.
The method and cost of treating depression is also currently a more common concern. The survey shows that more than 60% of the population prefers face-to-face treatment, while 30% consider voice or text counseling by WeChat to be more acceptable. Eighty-two percent of people believe that depression treatment should be covered by medical insurance, just like other physical illnesses.
Chinese people’s knowledge of depression
According to the survey, most people have only some knowledge or a general understanding of depression. There are few individuals who know a lot about depression.
1. Does a high level of education mean that you know more about depression?
The survey showed that the percentage of individuals who know a lot about depression is very low, regardless of their education level, with about 50% of individuals knowing only a little. However, the percentage of individuals with high education who know a lot about depression (more than 10%) is higher than the percentage of those with low education (about 3%). This finding indicates that the Chinese population is poorly informed about depression. Even people with high education have limited knowledge about depression.
2. Is there a difference between men and women in terms of their knowledge of depression?
Our survey results show that the proportion of people who know something about depression is the highest for both men and women (around 40%), followed by those who do not know anything at all (around 20%). Overall, the difference between men and women was not significant.
3. Is there a difference in the level of knowledge of depression among individuals of different ages?
Our survey found that most people (around 50%), whether they are 20 or 40 years old, still have only some knowledge about depression. There is no big difference in age.
4. How do people learn about or get exposed to depression?
The survey results show that about 50% of the individuals first came across depression mainly through celebrities or other popular events. The next most common reason was because they or someone close to them was suffering from depression (28%). The percentage of those who learned about it through courses, lectures or books was very low (24%). This shows that the education and popularization of depression in China is still relatively backward.
5.Does the public understand that severe depression may lead to suicide?
The survey results show that about 90% of the people, regardless of their education level, understand that severe depression may lead to suicide.
6. Are all depressed people currently receiving systematic treatment?
Our survey shows that only about 10% of the total number of depressed people receive systematic treatment. Most of the depressed patients do not receive systematic treatment. This indicates that the current status of treatment for depression in China is not satisfactory. Analysis of the possible reasons revealed that 70-80% of people reported that they were not sure whether there were (or not) institutions and individuals who could perform psychotherapy.
7. When suffering from depression, do people cope with it scientifically?
When individuals are chronically depressed and may be depressed, what are the general ways they use to cope. The survey results show that only 5% of people will seek help from professional institutions or individuals. Most individuals suffer independently and in silence or seek out family and friends to talk to. This indicates that most people are still unable to adopt the right way to cope with depression.
8. What is the acceptable treatment for depression?
Regardless of age group, education and income level, more than 60% of people prefer face-to-face treatment to online or telephone counseling, while 30% of people consider voice or text counseling by WeChat to be more acceptable. The results of this survey indicate that most people believe that depression is a mental illness that is more suitable for treatment through face-to-face communication with a specialist.
9. Should depression treatment be covered by medical insurance?
About 82% of people believe that depression treatment should be covered by health insurance, just like other physical illnesses.