Last Saturday, the Volkskrant featured an article on depression: it now is national disease nr. 4 (measured in loss of healthy years or early death) and will soon become nr. 1 or 2. In the Netherlands alone, each year 350.000 people develop a depression. Four to five out of every twenty persons deal with a depression or some type of anxiety. We're not talking about your average winter dip either, but of a fullblown psychological disorder. A disorder that costs our society 2,9 billion Euro per year. Needless to say, several different pairs of eyes are now finally focussing on this 'phenomenon'.
By the way: contrary to popular belief, the disease is not a ' luxury' or western disease growing as economical development is progressing. In non-western cultures, depression will have climbed up to nr. 2 national disease by the year 2020. Without aids, it would be number one.
I hope the article helps take away (some of) the taboo surrounding the disease. It's time to open up our eyes and realise not only 'losers' get depressed.
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