According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 300 million people around the world suffer from depression.

Yet, many reject treatment for depression and do not seek out depression therapy.

There are many reasons why some refuse depression treatment. All, though, have the same result: going through life day-by-day facing the burden of depression on their own. Worse even, many may also be struggling with very difficult problems, such as substance abuse or thoughts of suicide, because they’re not receiving the help they need.

If someone you know has depression but is not getting treatment, understanding why people with depression reject treatment can aid you to better support and encourage them to get help.

The Reality of Statistics

To better understand this problem, researchers studied data collected from 20,000 people over a span of six years. These were all individuals who had been diagnosed with depression.

The researchers then took that data and used an algorithm to attempt to predict how many would not seek out help for the seventh year. The result was that the algorithm predicted that a whopping 72% of participants would not get therapeutic help for their depression. These statistics are shocking and worrisome!

However, the question remains: Why do people not seek out treatment?

Believing They Can Handle Depression Themselves

Many people who reject treatment for depression do so because they believe that they can handle the issue on their own. It could be that these individuals are not good at asking for help in other areas of their lives.

For instance, there is the parent that puts the needs of their family ahead of their own. Or the person who might not even believe that there is a problem in the first place. Perhaps they have lived like depression their whole lives. So, why should anything be different?

This type of thinking is dangerous because it keeps people trapped in depression when they could be enjoying a fuller life.

Thinking That Depression Is a Sign of Weakness

Another reason why people often refuse depression treatment is that they feel it’s a sign of weakness. By admitting that they have depression and seeking out depression therapy, it seems to them that they admit they are not strong or “have it all together.”

Many societies have stigmas against those with mental health problems. And, lamentably, even though there has been much published on the subject, this still exists in modern countries as well.

Moreover, depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health problems. And there’s that word: problem. Nobody likes to think that something is wrong, and even fewer want to admit it to others.

Lacking the Knowledge of Where to Get Help

Curiously, despite all the information available on the subject, many who have depression don’t actually know where to get help. This lack of education about mental health services isn’t necessarily their fault. Not everybody has access to the Internet.

Perhaps, in the neighborhood where they grew up, there were few, if any, mental health services available. And so, they’re unfamiliar with the resources. Or maybe they do not receive information about mental health services through their employer or even community channels.

What’s needed is a real focus on ensuring that everyone knows the options in their communities for quality mental health care, including depression therapy.

Worrying About Treatment Cost

The number one reason why people reject treatment for depression is that they can’t afford it. This is the sad reality of our health care system and its failure to provide quality and affordable mental health care options.

Of course, the solution cannot be found in a simple blog post. However, writing about it can be useful to educate people on which treatment options are available to them and where they can find funding for treatment. In the long-term, though, our society needs to find workable solutions so that everyone can receive the treatment they need.

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As you can see, there are many reasons why depressed people reject treatment for depression. Sometimes, they refuse depression treatment for personal reasons. At other time, they do not seek out depression therapy because of practical matters such as cost or even not knowing where to go. Whatever the reason, the best way to solve depression is through treatment.

If you’re interested to know more about my services and approach to depression treatment, please contact me or click on the link.