10% of Poles have had depression: survey

A study by pollster CBOS has shown that depression was most closely linked to respondents’ financial, employment and interpersonal situations, the Rzeczpospolita daily reported.

The condition affected the out-of-work and disabled pensioners five times more than those were employed, the paper said, adding that the depressed employed were usually low-skilled workers.

Depression was also more frequent among respondents with a low per capita income of PLN 900 (EUR 209, USD 239) per month.

Another risk factor contributing to depression was being single, particularly divorced or separated, according to the research.

The most common reason for depression is excessive, long-term stress, 68 percent of respondents said, followed by a fast-paced lifestyle, overworking as well as insufficient human contact, according to 56 percent of those questioned.

Eighty-two percent of respondents with depression symptoms said they consulted a physician, psychologist or psychotherapist.

Eighteen percent did not seek professional help as they either said they could handle the problem on their own or considered their condition trivial.

The study was run on a sample of 1,106 adults on October 4-11.

(aba/vb)

Source: Rzeczpospolita