PANAJI: Stating that husband’s alcoholism is the major cause of depression amongst 80 per cent of women suffering from the disease in Goa, senior psychiatrist at the North Goa District hospital Dr Shaheen Saiyed on Thursday said that drunk men tend to neglect their families leading to depression in their wives.
“Consumption of alcohol in Goa is slightly on a higher side… we have observed that the main factor for developing depression amongst 80 per cent of women in the age group of 25-55 has been husband’s alcoholism,” Dr Saiyed said at a press conference in the city. Hormonal imbalances in women’s reproductive life is another factor that leads to depression, she explained.
When sadness envelopes it affects day-to-day life of a person for more than two weeks and we can call those sinking feelings as depression, which is a disease and needs to be treated at the earliest, Dr Saiyed explained.
She said the lack of support to the people afflicted by mental disorders and the stigma prevent many depressed people from getting treated.
Depression leads to suicidal thoughts, and hence conversations with a depressed person are the first step to treat the disease, she said.
Elucidating the causes of depression in men, the senior psychiatrist said that in men issues relating to physical health, relationship and employment lead to depression.
Even the birth of a baby could be a cause of depression amongst men.
“People who abuse alcohol, recreational drugs and tobacco are more prone to depression, and depressed people may turn to drugs,” she warned.
Dr Saiyed said that 50-60 per cent of people affected by depression receive treatment from mental health professionals but the rest 40 per cent of patients do not get institutional treatment due to ignorance and poor economic background.
Youngsters in the age group of 14-18 who abuse drugs make suicide attempts, she said adding that 35 per cent of people visiting her clinic every day are depressed people.
Early detection and institutional treatment help a person fight the disease and lead a normal life, the senior psychiatrist observed.
Speaking on the occasion, oncologist Dr Shekhar Salkar said that people living in a nuclear family are more prone to depression than those living in a joint family.
“In a nuclear family there is less conversation… when people live in a joint family there is more conversation with family members about daily issues which helps us escape the depression, as we receive suggestions as well as emotional support required to overcome depression,” Dr Salkar said, warning that spending most of the time on social networking sites could be hazardous to healthy life.
He appealed to parents to spend more time with their children to understand their needs and issues which will ultimately result in family bonding that will help keep depression at bay.