Psychology 102 (Winter '20): Analysis of Depression in Canada

This report analyzes a popular press article discussing the prevalence of depression and anxiety in Canada, particularly among young adults. The study highlights that over half of Canadians view these issues as an epidemic, with a significant portion of the 18-34 age group facing mental health challenges. The article discusses the importance of awareness programs to educate individuals about depression symptoms, the interplay between psychological and physiological effects, and the impact of negative thinking patterns. The report summarizes the research findings, including the underfunding of mental health services and the need for increased government support. It also critiques the study's limitations, such as the potential ineffectiveness of awareness campaigns without additional interventions, and suggests the need for affordable counseling. The report concludes by emphasizing the adverse effects of depression and advocating for government action to address the issue effectively.

OPTIONAL ANALYTIC
STUDENT DETAILS
STUDENT DETAIL

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Analysis......................................................................................................................................2
Summary of results....................................................................................................................3
Limitations of the study.............................................................................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
For this study, the selected topic is “Depression”. Depression is a mental health
disorder which resultant in causing significant impairment in daily life. Issues like depression
and anxiety changes brain function such as altering of certain neural changes, etc. Various
studies also analysed that depression is caused by combination of genetic, biological
environmental changes, psychological factors, etc. In this report, discussion will incorporate
about the depression by analysing articles of popular press. Viewpoint of the author, a brief
summary of the results, its limitations, etc. will be discussed in this report.
Analysis
In this article, researcher explained that over 53% of the Canadian consider
depression and anxiety related issues as an epidemic disease in Canada because according to
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) over 59% of people who are in age group of
18 to 34 years old are dealing with the depression related issues in their life. In this article,
researcher also explained that it is the serious issues and it is entire related with the mental
illness of the young population (Mamdani, 2020). The research had also mention that people
to have depression and anxiety related issues, in majority of the cases they are not even aware
about their adverse mental condition. In this case, it is extremely important that effective
programs should be emerge that should aim at increasing awareness among the people. These
mental health programs should educate people over the symptoms of depression and anxiety
such as sadness, losing of interest, change in behaviour, change in sleep, appetite,
overthinking, etc. Apart from this, it is important to understand that depression is the
psychology disease but along with putting adverse effect on the psychological condition of an
individual, mental illness like depression put adverse effect on the physiological condition of
the body too (Mamdani, 2020).

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Apart from this, it is also important to analyse that negative thinking pattern that
develops in the youth is counted among the major cause of depression. It is noted that young
generation, just after completing their graduation they started feeling worry about their
career, life, relationships, etc. Slowly, their complete thinking pattern changes to the negative
aspects. It means when they started feeling worry about their career, future, etc. (instead of
actually working on their career) then they have reach to the depth of the negativity. Then,
they find themselves in the state of aloneness, sadness, they started losing interest in almost
everything, their behaviour become rude, etc. Later on, symptoms of depression started
visible in them (Mamdani, 2020). Thus, according to the researcher, it is better to identify
such symptoms at the early stage but it can only be possible when people itself have the
adequate knowledge about the depression and other psychological disease. Here, it can be
analysed that the researcher is focusing much on the fact that various programs related to the
mental illness should be started in the country and these programs should aim at increasing
awareness among the people about mental illness issues (Mamdani, 2020).
Summary of results
85% of Canadians state emotional wellness administrations are among the most
underfunded benefits in Canada’s medicinal services framework and the larger part concur
that the Government of Canada should finance psychological well-being at a similar level as
physical wellbeing (Mamdani, 2020). Regardless of ongoing remarkable psychological
wellness financing duties made by the national government, over 1.6 million Canadians
report neglected emotional well-being care needs every year. Around the world,
psychological maladjustment represents around 23 percent of the complete illness trouble, yet
Canada commits just 7.2 percent of its social insurance spending plan to emotional wellness
and the requirement for psychological wellness administrations and supports is developing.
By 2020, despondency will be the main source of sickness in Canada. Up to 80 percent of

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Canadians depend on their family doctors to meet their psychological wellness care needs,
yet those administrations are restricted. Proof based medicinal services gave by dependence
advisors, analysts, social laborers and particular friend bolster laborers is the establishment of
the psychological well-being reaction in other G7 nations, however these administrations are
not ensured through our open framework (Mamdani, 2020).
Limitations of the study
It can be analysed that the researcher focuses only on creating awareness among the
targeted audience. However, it is not guarantee that increasing awareness among the youth
will showcase declining percentage in depression rate. In general, it can only be analysed that
currently there are various pages and channels on the social media which empower youth
with effective methods to fight with the depression. In this case, it can be analysed that youth
is already being awareness about the state of depression and anxiety but still there is no
change in the rate of depression among the audience (Mamdani, 2020). In this context, it is
important that government agencies should consider this mental illness issue on the serious
level and they should start incorporating effective measures to fight with such mental issue. It
is suggested that government should offer affordable psychologist counselling to the youth
(Mamdani, 2020).
Conclusion
In this report, it is concluded that an issue of depression is putting adverse effect on
the psychological and physiological condition of the youth. It is noted that people who are in
depression are not even aware about their adverse mental condition. Thus, researcher has
suggested that various programs should be started in the country that should aim at increasing
awareness among the audience in the effective and efficient way. On the other hand,
limitations of the study have showcase that there are various pages on the social media which

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aim at creating awareness among the youth towards such adverse mental condition. In this
case, it is suggested that the government should pay serious attention on this issue and serious
actions are required to be taken.

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References
Mamdani, K. (2020). Over half of Canadians consider anxiety and depression
‘epidemic’. Retrieved from: https://hospitalnews.com/over-half-of-canadians-consider-
anxiety-and-depression-epidemic/