Depression is a mental health disorder that can affect anyone. It’s a challenging mental health condition that can make someone feel hopeless, sad, and irritable and causes a loss of interest in activities or hobbies. It can cause changes in sleep or eating habits and social isolation and can even lead to self-harm if severe enough. No matter a person’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual preference—depression does not discriminate.
There is no rhyme or reason for who it will affect and when. Universally, the signs and symptoms of depression are the same. However, there is a difference between how different cultures perceive depression.
When Depression And Cultural Expectations Collide
There is one common misconception about depression that is present across all cultures. The word gets misused a lot. If anyone is feeling sad or lonely, it is common to hear things like, “I’m so depressed.” However, depression is not a word that should be taken or used lightly.
In order to receive a diagnosis of depression, someone must exhibit five or more classic symptoms of depression for more than a period of two consecutive weeks or longer.
Different cultures = different expectations of what depression is
This is what we mean by cultural expectations. Depending on where a person lives, their gender, age, race, socioeconomic class, or religion, symptoms of depression might be classified differently. For instance, certain countries only identify depression by the physical signs of it, not the mental.
Depending on someone’s culture, how society views them differs, too. In one country, one person would be shamed by their peers for talking about feeling hopeless or sad, causing them to stay silent about their struggle. Alternatively, some cultures may instantly medicate a person if they even hint that they are experiencing any symptoms of depression.
The symptoms and signs of depression are universal, but how someone perceives them is important when discussing the treatment of depression. For therapists and doctors, it’s important to take note of the cultural expectation and perceptions surrounding mental health.
Differing cultural expectations can prevent treatment
If mental health topics are considered taboo to talk about within someone’s culture, they might not seek help. If you don’t know much about depression, you wouldn’t even know where to begin asking for help. Because of the stigma surrounding depression, if someone does suspect they have depression, they may not even try to reach out for help at all, especially in cultures where talking about anything related to depression is frowned upon.
Treating Depression With Culture In Mind
No matter who you are in this world, it’s hard to admit that you are struggling with your mental health. Even though the stigma surrounding mental health has lessened, it is still very much present, whether that is in the United States or elsewhere.
Maybe you have been living in the states for a while, but your home country or culture is what you know best. If you are from a region that views depression as something shameful or wrong to talk about, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that you haven’t spoken to anyone about it. Honoring one’s culture and upbringing is always important. However, cultural barriers should never prevent someone from receiving the mental health support they need. While the perception of depression may differ, that does not mean its effect on a person is any different.
If you are struggling with depression but are hesitant to reach out to someone for help, I encourage you to contact me. I would love to hear about you, in general, to learn more about your culture. This way, I can help you find relief through depression therapy while still honoring your culture. I look forward to hearing from you.
