Essay On Depression In Bangladesh

Introduction
Depression is a condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life in general. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), ‘five (or more) of the described symptoms have to be present during the same 2- week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure’(1). The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
Depression is one of the leading causes of the global burden of diseases and accounted for people’s poorer quality of life globally. WHO estimated 350 million people around the globe is affected in depression(2). A recent survey conducted in seventeen countries revealed that ‘on average 1 in 20 individual reported having an episode of depression in the previous year’ (2). Globally more women are affected by depression with a life risk for development of depression 20-25% while the figure is 7- 12% for men (3). The estimated prevalence of depression in Bangladesh is 3-4% and the lifetime prevalence of the

This is slightly less than the overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Bangladesh (16.1%)(22). Both educational and employment status determined the level of depression for the participants. Lower education was associated with higher depression. Similarly, unemployed participants reported higher depression than the employed women. These findings supported the role enhancement theory (5). Education and employment bring crucial rewards, such as role-privileges, status security, an opportunity for status enhancement and role performance. This, in turn, foster enriched personality and ego gratification (5) ultimately preventing participating women from falling in