Stereotyping and healthcare decisions
Depression
Introduction-
Sadly, a lot of people who suffer from depression have been stigmatised by society for not being sick. The
tragic truth is that the suffering experienced by depression victims is grossly undervalued and
misunderstood. leading to stereotyping and stigma. Many people in society who don't understand mental
illness look down on depression. I want to talk about how society has stereotyped depression and why these
ideas matter, how to encourage and promote inclusivity, and how to conclude considering my values and
beliefs.
Major depressive disorder is commonly referred to as "depression." (Bedrin, 2017) The condition is
prevalent and has the potential to be fatal. Although the term "depression" is frequently used, what
does it mean? Depression is a serious illness that has a detrimental impact on your thoughts, feelings,
and behaviour. There may be intense, protracted feelings of despair and melancholy. (West, 2021)
Background-
Depression is a common mental health condition that affects "1 in 6 persons in the UK," (Pindar,
Champion Health , 2021) According to the World Health Organization, 280 million people worldwide
suffer from depression (Organisation, 2021) There are many different varieties of depression, including
clinical, postnatal, psychotic, manic, and more. Depression can impair one's capacity to function.
According to the workplace health report, published by Champion Health UK, "52% of employees are
experiencing symptoms of depression" (Pindar, Champion Health , 2021)
Long-term sorrow and hopelessness, as well as interest loss, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, guilt, and lack
of desire, are all possible psychological signs of depression. Despite being a mental condition,
depression can have major effects on a person's physical health, including constipation, low energy,
diminished sex drive, food changes, and sleep difficulties. Chronic stress, heredity, gender, traumatic
event history, personality traits, poor nutrition, unresolved grief, and drug and alcohol use are all risk
factors for depression. (NHS, 2019)
2021 (Pedersen) Daily problems brought on by depression include avoiding social interaction, feeling
lonely, giving up interests, and having trouble at home or at work. 60% of sad people do not seek
professional assistance, according to (Koskie, 2022), because of the stigma attached to depression.
Stereotyping of the chosen group-
Stereotyping is something everyone does, it means meaning to
erroneously suppose that all things or individuals that share a
characteristic are the same. People make these beliefs about
depression. The expressions "depression isn't a proper illness"
appears common. "Misery and sadness are the same things," "those
who suffer depression are merely lazy or mentally ill," Depression is
simply a byproduct of going through a difficult moment,
antidepressant medication is required if you're depressed, and those
with depression simply need to snap out of it (Futurelearn, 2022).
An example of real-world stereotyping is a tweet by Andrew Tate. A
multi-millionaire 35-year-old has made the headlines for the outrageous remarks he espouses. Many
individuals were irritated by one of his tweets.
Tate declares in a tweet from September 7 that "depression isn't real, you feel sad, you move on and
move on. you will always be depressed if your life is depressing. Change it. Thread.” You can see this
tweet in. (Wiener, 2021) Many people, especially those who are depressed, can be triggered by the
label he has made. Andrew stated in the tweet that depression is not real. In essence, he is suggesting
that he does not consider depression to be a serious condition and that people's lives would alter if
they simply moved on when they felt depressed. These statements make depressed people feel angry
and upset, which deters them from obtaining professional aid. This results in their exclusion from the
broader population. This stigma and stereotyping lead to prejudice and discrimination.
The impact of stereotyping-
Stereotyping has a profound effect on those who are depressed. (Devendorf, 2021) conducted a
review and found that stigma significantly lowers the likelihood that a depressed individual will seek
therapy. Major issues are patient vulnerability and safety. The likelihood of mental health
