Depression in Canada
Although the ancient Greeks debated the link between health and depression, it wasn't until much later-during the 1980s-that epidemiological studies began to reveal the pervasiveness of mood disorders and their association with dysfunction and disability.
"The early studies put mental illness on the map as a priority in healthcare," says Dr. Scott Patten. "They also showed that a lot of people were not getting the treatment they needed. Since then there's been a huge increase in the number of people being treated with medication, particularly for depression. Survey work we've done in Alberta shows that 6% to 7% of Albertans are taking anti-depressants.
"So now the research questions are changing. How well is treatment working? Are too many people on medication? Are they being targeted appropriately? These are the things we need to know."
Informing this debate is a new report on depression in Canada, co-authored by Dr. Patten with Heather Juby from the Research Data Centre Network. "A Profile of Clinical Depression in Canada" is a social report rather than a clinical one, according to the authors. It brings together results from numerous studies to describe the extent of depression in Canada; highlights potential areas for public policy intervention; and suggests directions for future research.
The Research Data Centre Network is operated by means of a partnership with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Statistics Canada, and a consortium of universities across the country.