Depressive Disorder: Educational Gap and Impact

Running head: DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
Depressive disorder
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1
DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
Identification of chosen area:
Mental health problems are crucial health issues that disrupt individual well being of
population in Australia and identified as one of the serious public health concern for increased
morbidity. In this paper, the chosen area of health care setting is a depressive disorder which is a
potential public health concern. This paper will illustrate education gap of the selected area and
educational tool in following paragraphs.
Relevant literature review for the educational gap:
A depressive disorder is a chronic illness that contributed to the global burden of the
disease and prevalence of this disorder observed in entire lifespan irrespective of the age
(Martinson and Tienda 2016). The notable symptoms of depression are low mood, loss of
interest, feelings of guilt and low self-worth along with lack of disturbed sleep or appetite
(Martinson and Tienda 2016). Graham et al. (2016), stated that major depressive disorder is the
most common mental illness where the prevalence of 5.8% in United States. A significant
number of individuals are suffering from depressive disorder due to alcohol abuse, obsessive-
compulsive disorder or presence other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (Nguyen
and Hider 2018). The risk of developing depressive disorder is observed within the older
population while they are suffering from other chronic diseases (Richards et al. 2015). Graham
et al. (2016), highlighted the tendency of social isolation in older population because they live
away from their family. Bailey (2016), reported that the risk factor of developing disorder is also
exhibited by adolescent where they might develop severe depression as an adult. As discussed by
Posso (2016), the majority of the patient who was suffering from these mental health issues do
not seek clinical assistance in the early stage of life. The researchers identified various factors

2
DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
which is responsible for this negligence. Brijnath et al. (2016), patient with undetected
depression usually seek clinical help when it reaches the severe condition that may distort normal
life. In the majority of the cases, individuals identified it as a casual low mood which clearly
highlighted their lack of insight into the medical conditions. Bailey (2016), also emphasized that
due to the stigma associated with the depression, a significant number of individuals in the
population do not seek clinical help. Financial factors are also a key player for educational gap
regarding the development of chronic mental illness. Personal beliefs of patients and public
hinder them from gaining knowledge of risk factor which contributed to the severity of the
disease (Adusei-Asante 2017). Therefore, immediate clinical assistance required for these
patients along with accurate education for risk factor.
Impact of the educational gap that was undertaken:
Depression is one of the common disorders that affected person’s ability to work and
function normally (Adusei-Asante 2017). This disorder not only causes a decrement in health
but also worsen the situation for a patient who is suffering from another chronic disease.
Richards et al. (2015), stated that a considerate number of individual have personal experience
with depression but due to lack of knowledge, they cannot recognize it in vignettes and unable to
differentiate between depression from normal sadness. The lack of knowledge and poor
knowledge the risk factor of the depression hinders individual from seeking clinical help.
Richards et al. (2015), showed that non- help seekers did not consider it as a serious illness and
believed that they could handle these painful experiences themselves. On the other hand, the help
seekers felt that their experience is too painful and disrupt the interpersonal as well as role
functioning. Posso (2016), argued that little knowledge of risk factors and personal ,cultural
beliefs influence the decision of treatment choice. Individuals with poor knowledge of risk