Depression Across the World

Depression is a mental disorder that leads to persistent feelings of sadness and a lack of interest. It can make daily activities feel overwhelming, and sometimes you might feel that life isn't worth living. You may also experience trouble sleeping, excessive low self-worth, or changes in appetite. These symptoms are so common that we sometimes overlook the possibility of depression. Since there’s no blood test for it, diagnosing depression is quite subjective. If you find yourself struggling with these emotions for an extended period, seeking help is crucial. Consulting a therapist, psychiatrist, or counsellor isn’t a sign of weakness. Thankfully, mental health is gaining more focus today, though stigma and reluctance to seek help still persist in some societies. At least people are becoming more aware of depression's symptoms. It seems like we’re heading in the right direction, but are we really making progress?

I recently examined data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) on the prevalence of depression worldwide, and the results were quite surprising.

If I ask you - Which country in your opinion is the most depressed?

I bet you won't be able to guess it.

It is Greenland. The prevalence of depression in Greenland is 7.7%. To put this in perspective, the global average is 4%. In the world's most populated country, it's 2.9%, and in one of the world's superpowers, it's 5.5%.

Shocking isn't it? A small country with the most extraordinary beauty, with a population of just 56,000 is the most depressed country in the world.

Greenland is even called the suicide capital of the world. I had no idea about this until I saw the shocking statistics in the analysis and researched it myself. Apparently, every Greenlander knows someone who has taken their own life. I got really curious as to what might have triggered this. Why a place so pretty and quaint would have such high depression?

I initially thought the high depression rates in Greenland were due to the harsh climate—the cold and darkness. However, further research revealed much deeper causes. Greenland has experienced a traumatic past, including colonization, forced relocations, and cultural suppression which became the major reasons for suicide. After World War II, Denmark, as the colonial power, aimed to develop Greenland's economy. They capitalized on the abundance of fish, and brought in trading companies. This shift from traditional hunting and trading to commercial fishing disrupted the traditional Inuit economy (indigenous and most populous ethnic group in Greenland) in small villages, which relied on collective hunting and trading for sustenance leading to massive unemployment. As a coping mechanism, many people turned to alcohol, increasing reliance on it. This, coupled with limited mental health support, has fueled rising depression rates and high suicide rates in Greenland. The lack of coping mechanisms for suffering, loneliness, and isolation means that a suicide in one family often leads to others, creating a tragic chain reaction.

It’s genuinely heartbreaking to see the situation in Greenland. What’s even more troubling is that no one is talking about it. This isn't common knowledge, and the issue remains largely unaddressed by global leaders.

Shifting the focus to the overall analysis, I created the dashboard below to examine the prevalence of depression worldwide based on GBD data (2021).

You can access the dashboard here: Depressive Disorder Dashboard

The world map shows the prevalence of depression across the world. If you hover over the map, you will be able to see how the prevalence of depression has been changing from 1990-2021. We’ve already identified the country with the highest depression rates. Additionally, you can view the top 10 or top 20 countries with the highest depression rates through the bar chart by adjusting the 'Select Top N' value.

But here’s a question that might intrigue you:

Are males more depressed than females? or vice versa?

The scatterplot holds the answer. It reveals a striking trend: in every country, women experience higher rates of depression than men. This pattern highlights a significant gender gap in mental health.

At first, it seems that societal factors like unequal power and status, work overload, and abuse might explain why women experience higher depression rates than men. However, men are not immune to these societal pressures; they too face significant challenges.

Understanding gender gap in depression is quite compex. It not only based on societal factors but also certain biological factors. According to studies, hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman's life, particularly during significant life stages such as puberty, premenstrual phase, pregnancy, and perimenopause, may play a role in triggering depression in women. Estrogen, in particular, has been implicated in depression, and a decline in estrogen levels may increase the risk of depression. On the other hand, testosterone in men may confer some protective effects against depression.

There’s a wealth of potential insights waiting to be uncovered with this data. For instance, analyzing which age groups are most vulnerable to depression could reveal critical patterns and lead to greater awareness. The next section is designed for fellow analysts who wish to delve deeper into these aspects or explore related questions.

Data Sourcing and Transformation:

I sourced the data directly from the GBD wesbite. To access it, simply sign up and specify your intended use for the data. You’ll then choose the metrics you need, and an email will notify you when your data is ready for download. Please note, that it might take a few days for the data to become available. Once it is, you'll have a 7-day window to download it.

Below is a quick snippet of how the original data looked:

I performed some basic transformations using Alteryx. These steps are straightforward and can also be done using other tools like Excel or Alteryx.

To enhance the data, I added a column for regional groupings based on information from IPU Regional Groupings. And that's pretty much it. The final dataset is now ready for analysis. You can download it from here if you would like to use the transformed version:

By all means, feel free to download and explore the data to generate valuable insights and contribute to raising awareness. Remember to cite the source if you use the data in your work. Thank you!

Bonus Section: Key Tableau Learnings in Creating the Dashboard.

1. Making a line at 45 degrees: https://benjnmoss.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/how-to-add-a-45-30-and-60-trend-line-in-tableau/#:~:text=Create%20a%20dual%20axis%20by,for%20each%20angle%20you%20wish.
2. Using Set and Parameter to Change Top N: https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_topn.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20Data%20pane%2C%20under,that%20appears%20in%20the%20view.

References:

1. Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/how-are-mental-illnesses-defined
2. IMHE, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. https://www.healthdata.org/research-analysis/gbd
3. The Artic Suicides: It's Not The Dark That Kills You, 2016. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/21/474847921/the-arctic-suicides-its-not-the-dark-that-kills-you
4. Rising suicide rate baffles Greenland, Aljazeera, 2010. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2010/9/24/rising-suicide-rate-baffles-greenland
5. Albert PR. Why is depression more prevalent in women? J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2015 Jul;40(4):219-21. doi: 10.1503/jpn.150205. PMID: 26107348; PMCID: PMC4478054.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4478054/