Problems of the articulate?

Here in the UK, around 2 in 3 adults have depression at some time in their lives. The predictions are more dire. By 2020, it will be the most serious illness facing humanity. Meanwhile, we also read about how widespread stress and anxiety are.

In some countries- for example Pakistan- a diagnosis of depression, stress or anxiety is not so widespread. Symptoms are dismissed as unrelated. Here, for example, low mood, fatigue, tiredness, headaches and persistent worry might lead to a diagnosis of depression, all symptoms which research has shown are widespread in Pakistan. There, people dismiss these as unrelated symptoms. The tiredness and fatigue might be the result of working in the fields all day. The worry and low mood might emanate from concern for the future of children. In the absence of these symptoms being accompanied by psychotic/ schizophrenic symptoms, few are likely to associate them with mental illness. Most people would say they are facts of life.

It could be argued that by being aware of how widespread depression, anxiety and stress are, and by having ready access to sources of information about these, people in the West are more likely to articulate their problems in a way that fits into a diagnostic category. There are strong proponents of this view. They are concerned about the rise of the “cannot cope culture” and the therapeutic state.

There are strong arguments on both sides of the debate. There is no doubt that the articulate are diagnosed and treated more quickly, but I would argue that this is the case with any illness or problem. The more you know about your problem the more help you can get. That doesn’t make your problem any less serious. In the UK, many South Asians who do not even speak English- for example women and older people generally- are diagnosed with depression. The diagnosis may take a while- after many visits to the GP and complaints about various symptoms.