Depression More Common in Women, Suicidal Thoughts in Men

India has one of highest rates of depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the world according to WHO.

(This story was first published in June 2018. It is being republished ahead of the World Mental Health Day 2018 on 10 October.)

As many as 5 crore people in India suffer from depression, according to a report by the World Health Organisation.

Additionally, India has one of the countries with the highest rate of depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the world, according to WHO data in 2016. A phenomenon like suicide does not exist in isolation and is often accompanied and triggered by mental disorders of this kind.

If these numbers weren’t dismal enough, there’s more. Of all the people suffering with depression globally, only half of them seek treatment. Depression is defined by WHO in the following manner: