Back to: I am not happy anymore, Aotearoa Edition
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Depression.
Depression is more than just a low mood or sadness. It can be a serious illness. In short if you feel an episode of being ‘depressed’ that last’s longer than 2 weeks it is a serious clinical illness that needs attention, advice and help.
One (1) in six (6) kiwis will experience major significant depression at some stage in their life. While reported as more common in females (1 in 5) as compared to males (1 in 8) this might be subjective and partially due to reporting and males tendencies to not be as free willed in expressing emotions.
One (1) in seven (7) young kiwis will experience a major depression related disorder before the age of 24.
Suicide.
Our youth (teenagers 15 – 19) suicide rate is one of the worlds highest, double that of the USA and almost 5 times that of the UK.
Overall men are more than twice as likely to commit suicide as females, with our Māori rates at 1.4% higher than others.
PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
We have included PTSD here as the results of factors that contribute to or cause PTSD can manifest as depression, either way, recognizing something’s up and doing something about it is where the value is at.
PTSD is acquired from a lived experience – a real or perceived threat of danger, which may involve a possible loss of life. This is an important distinction over other mental health conditions. Of our populations 3.6% with PTSD symptoms many will not know they have PTSD. 6% or more will experience it in their lifetime. Up to 75% of us will experience an event that could trigger PTSD. It is most common amongst women (who are at twice the risk of experiencing PTSD), indigenous communities, refugees, military & veterans, first responders, victims of violent crimes and those who have experienced natural or man-made disaster.
Of adolescents in general (14-17) 28% will experience sexual victimization. 8% of females will experience rape. This data is estimated to be massively under reported.
Across the services 23% of women seeking help for PTSD were due to sexual trauma during service. It is estimated 38% of women and over 50% of men will not report sexual trauma(s) including harassment.
Police: From a 2021 independent study of 4000 NZ police.
- 43% had significant PTSD symptoms
- 14% had clinically significant PTSD symptoms that would meet diagnosis criteria.
Ambulance: From a 2022 survey of 1925 respondents,
- 42.8% had significant PTSD symptoms,
- 14% received a clinical PTSD diagnosis.
Military Veterans: Incidence of clinically diagnosed PTSD.
- Vietnam 15 – 30%,
- Gulf War 12%,
- Iraq and Afghanistan 14%.
- In Aotearoa a 2021 statistic suggested: Of 43,941 vets, 10% (4394) had clinical PTSD.
This data is massively under reported due to stigma, effect on insurance and other factors
A 2020 study showed as many as one in three serving military personnel have symptoms of PTSD with 10% showing clinical PTSD signs that would meet diagnosis criteria. This study showed similar rates of PTSD between combat and non-combat personnel with prevalence in older Māori males. Those who had served longer showed less signs of PTSD.
A 1997 study showed near double the rate of PTSD in Māori Vietnam combat veterans, this race effect was however mediated by combat exposure level, rank and combat role. This study did support a post combat adjustment relationship between race / indigenous groups and combat stressors.
