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Latest update: 22/08/2011
- France - health - research
France, the world’s most depressed nation?
France was proclaimed “world champion of misery” by its own press this week after a report published in the US rated the French as most likely to suffer from clinical depression. The statistics are there, but is the reality?
By Sophie PILGRIM (text)
A World Health Organisation (WHO) report published in the US last week signalled French people as the most likely to suffer from a “major depressive episode” in their lifetimes, provoking sensational headlines among the more neurotically-inclined members of the Gallic press.
The study, which was conducted by researchers from the State University of New York at Stony Brook as part of the WHO's World Mental Health Survey Initiative, was published on July 26 by esteemed American journal BMC Medicine. Some 90,000 people were probed on their mental health histories in 18 low- and high-income countries. It has been touted as the first international survey of its kind.
The results are impressive – while participants from low-income countries appeared less likely to suffer from depression at some point in their life, those from high-income nations seemed far more likely to suffer. France topped the list by one percentage point.
The deafening conclusion – “France, a depressed nation” or “Depression: France tops world ranking,” soon hit the headlines. The notion is not entirely novel to the French, who learned in 2008 that they consume more anti-depressants than any other country.
This new evidence served as further fuel to the pessimists, who eagerly offered up an array of fantastic explanations for the nation’s unparalleled tristesse. An article on health forum Psychiatrie.fr blamed, among other things: financial woes, the government’s raising of the retirement age, too much Prozac, and finally, that notorious “French tradition” -- post-holiday January blues.
Online comments went ever further, suggesting that French people are too intellectual for their own good, that they are born cynical, or even that they don’t take enough recreational drugs to get them through the day. According to one seemingly well-travelled commentator, Londoners and Quebecois steer clear of doom and gloom with a constant supply of cocaine and amphetamines.
Depressed or obsessed?
“We cannot conclude from this study that the French are more depressed than people from any other country,” says mental health researcher, Xavier Briffault, of France’s national research institute, CNRS. “The results of research like this are incredibly sensitive to the methods used to obtain them.”
Briffault, who worked on a 2008 study into the methodology of mental health research, argues that asking the same question of someone in France, and then India, for example, will not provoke the same response. “In developed countries people are very accustomed to hearing and talking openly about depression,” he explained in an interview with FRANCE 24. “In low-income countries that is not the case.” The translation and cultural adaptation of questions so that they can be understood across the board in many countries, Briffault says, is near impossible.
And while the WHO study included a lengthy screening programme and face-to-face interviews, it was up to those selected to decide whether they would take part or not. The average response rate was 71.7%, but in France it reached just 45.9%, making the French sample unrepresentative in terms of size.
Briffault also dismissed France’s high level of anti-depressant consumption as proof of the extent of the problem. “High consumption doesn’t indicate depression levels,” he said. “It indicates doctors’ willingness to prescribe the drugs.”
On the forums however, they’ve made their minds up for themselves. France is depressed and everybody should know why. “It’s obvious,” one commentator insists. “We spend too much time reading surveys.”
Top photo courtesy of 'bloowitt' under the Creative Commons license.
Follow Sophie Pilgrim on Twitter: @sophiepilgrim.
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Comments (30)
I have been living in France
I have been living in France for the past 6 months and never felt so depressed anywhere else in the world. I lived most of my life in the US and a bit in UK (4-5 years) and now in France and I think I know the reason why French are so depressed. My biggest problem with France is - the people - very selfish, very individualistic, very detached, aloof and also extremely backward, provincial and myopic in their thinking. The reason for all this - is because France is not progressing and moving in the right direction. The French are fighting too hard to hold on to their 18th century values and way of life and do not want to accept change in a modern world and move forward with the world. Majority of French also still think that France can still regain its status as a world superpower - when European countries were super powers was when America, India, China, etc did not even exist as democratic nations... now Europe has to accept the fact that they did the good stuff and need to sit back as well as accept reality. EU as a union of states can still be a bit progressive but individually these countries are too small now to have any worldwide influence.....but we do appreciate what they did in the past. Anyway - I think this is the reason why French are so depressed because they are not "progressing" - the country is not progressing and the people aren't either because they are part of this sad slow system here. French people lack energy, enthusiasm or drive - they are very laid back, quiet and into themselves mostly...even if they socialize it is on a very individualistic level - almost like they just come together to eat a meal and drink but don't really "communicate" with each other or show any true feelings for each other. When I drive in french villages and see big beautiful houses - I also notice a "gloom" over those houses...like the people bought the house to keep it to themselves and never open the doors to people...whereas in America everyone has house parties all the time. I think I will move to Spain or Italy soon since they seem to be the happiest people in Europe....maybe at some point France will change and become happy but it can only happen if they accept the new world and move on with it rather than being stuck in the past.
The French
I'm not French but I've lived in Paris for several years. I think the French are a sensitive, proud people, some of whom have told me they feel life in France is not what it used to be, and they believe their best days are behind them. I try to tell them that France is still a unique and beautiful country - but I'm not sure they believe it. I wish they could see France through my eyes: an exquisitely beautiful country with an incredible history that fought to become a great democracy - and that possibly influenced American democracy as well.
Depressing enough as it is.
The French don't care enough to get really depressed. They leave that up to others.
France, the world’s most depressed nation?
I've been back in France for 10 years in which time my depression barometer has hit rock bottom due to the incessant administrative paperwork. If you can't go physically to the tresorerie, the caf, the cpam everytime they want another lot of questions answered time and time again, you can swallow a lot of tablets for the headache you get.
hilarious comments in here
clearly a case of offended national pride here and the usual unwillingness of the French to admit and tackle issues affecting their country. It's the same on the French & EU sovereign debt. It was denied to be a problem until it really hit! La Politique de l'Autruche! We should change the national emblem from the Coq to the Ostrich!
Fact is France is the country consuming the highest dose of anti-depressants, whether it means doctors are more willing to prescribe them maybe, but doctors prescribe to a problem otherwise they would not prescribe ... one would hope!
France most depressed nation
France does appallingly lack trained psychologists and therapists who might diagnose early onset of clinical depression and thus non pharmaceutical measures to help.
The article is amusing and another good excuse for taking the Mickey out of the French but it doesn't say where the scientists who designed the questions came from and what their cultural expectations were. Take 100 scientists designing parameters for depression from India and 100 from China and 100 from the US and the cultural expectations and very definition of depression will be different.
France, the world’s most depressed nation?
I seen India being 9% and USA is 19.2% how about the USA business come back to USA where it belongs and our people wont be suffering as much.
Depressed or realistics?
If true, I guess it is linked to the analytic mindset of Frenchs. Only stupid people or people leaving in dream world might not be depressed by the sad reality of our surrounding. The world as it goes will see a rise in depressed people, being French or not!
Depressed or realistics
If true, I suppose it is linked the analytic mindset of French. Only people leaving in another world or planet are'nt depressed...
France's Depression
Nonsense! Some people are intelligent enough to know what the diagnosis means, the others are cerebrally offset or indifferent. I'm headed to Paris in six weeks for the Arc. I want lots of that French "depression" DL, Washington
I could imagine more
I could imagine more depressing places to be living than in France. I think it's just the western world in general where depression and anxiety related to everyday living is on the rise.
They drink alcoholic drinks
They drink alcoholic drinks day and night. It is why the bible discourages people from drinking.
That's pure BS!
No it's just BS, the most depressed people are to find in Sweden. known for it's high suicide rate. Today this former Jolly Left Wing nation has a right wing leadership who has turn it to a cold unfriendly socialist state, cuts in the NHS service are used to boost the governments figures to rise. I know I live here after being denied access to medical care I lost my right suprapinatus muscle and developed gastric cancer. I have asked for asylum in a non European country. This is where you find the most depressed people - BELEIVE ME.
French Depressed?
Probably no more or less than any other nation. Of course you wouldn't see a depressed person laughing it up at the local bistor, they wouldn't quite be 'up' to being there at all. Clinical depression is treatable - it has nothing to do with attitude, perseverance, or demeanor. It could be the French earned this title only because more of the respondents to the survey were honest.
French Depression
The French aren't more depressed they just have higher expectations. It's a question of standards. If you expect a dreary life and get one you're unlikely to be too disappointed but if you expect a wonderful life and get only a good one you'll be gutted. The French are doing wonderful work by keeping their hopes and expectations in terms of quality of life and happiness high thereby ensuring that their politicians never get too complacent.
France, depressed?
I've only beento France a few times, and the first time I went, I was warned that the French were isolationist, nationalistic, ignorant, etc., so of course I was prepared for the worst.
The French people we met, including shop-keepers, restauranteurs, a particular waiter on the Bateux Parisien, fellow passengers on the same Seine cruise, were all the most friendly people I've met while abroad. I went into DuPont for a ball-point re-fill, and the service was faultless. The assistant took my pen, fitted the re-fill, polished the pen and supplied me with a pad in order to test it. The re-fill cost about £1.75. In England, you would be given the re-fill in a bubble wrap. One of the restaurants we visited, in Gallieni, was family run and so friendly. The food was superb, and the staff were a delight. I hate generalisations in general (pardon the pun) but I would suggest visitors to a country meet lots of people before condemning any or all of them. Having said that, I suppose I wasn't in a position to see depression, so I may be generalising myself
France, depressed?
I've only beento France a few times, and the first time I went, I was warned that the French were isolationist, nationalistic, ignorant, etc., so of course I was prepared for the worst.
The French people we met, including shop-keepers, restauranteurs, a particular waiter on the Bateux Parisien, fellow passengers on the same Seine cruise, were all the most friendly people I've met while abroad. I went into DuPont for a ball-point re-fill, and the service was faultless. The assistant took my pen, fitted the re-fill, polished the pen and supplied me with a pad in order to test it. The re-fill cost about £1.75. In England, you would be given the re-fill in a bubble wrap. One of the restaurants we visited, in Gallieni, was family run and so friendly. The food was superb, and the staff were a delight. I hate generalisations in general (pardon the pun) but I would suggest visitors to a country meet lots of people before condemning any or all of them.
I would disagree and say that
I would disagree and say that the US is more depressed. I'm an American now happily living in France - big difference here. Americans are less likely to seek help for their depression due to being uninsured or feeling pressure to have that "can do" attitude. People there don't sympathize with colleagues for being ill due to competition for jobs. Here in France, it's very true that doctors will freely prescribe all sorts of meds for free or really cheap & that's a huge problem. The article is a bit misleading because it seems to track only those who actually seek help - & Americans are often less able to seek that help.
France depressed
This article is complete nonsense... The whole world is depressed at the minute..Here in Ireland ,people too are very down hearted because of the economic situation...I believe the reason the high earner countries have more depression is because of GREED...all these people got so greedy with earning money and investments that they lost track with reality....now they are in debt because of their greed that mentally , they cannot handle their new unwealthy status..
Here in Ireland our retirement age is 65, and has been for a while..France is a beautiful country and I believe the traditionalists who stayed happy and content with their culture and little earnings are not the depressed ones..The global economic catastrophe was man made, by the leaders of each nation along with the business elite and bankers...I believe the way to a depression free life is to be happy with oneself and not crave material posessions including wealth..."your health is your wealth"...
Viva le France!!!
depression
j'aurais bien voulu être tester pour faire varier le résultat dans le côté positif!
j'ai des doutes sur la pertinence de ce résultat!
cordialement
French? The most depressed?
As usual, any chance for the Americans to have a pop at the French. We live in France, we've just come back from a few days away among the French and we can vouch for the average French person being cheerful, friendly and amusing. Such rubbish and sadly some French people seem to believe it.
But just listen to the hysterical laughter in our local cafe where real people live.
France, the world’s most depressed nation.
Sad, sad report, with little or no sound basis to such base comments. Yes the French have a lot of pressure to constantly proform well, be it at school, university or at work. This can be stressful but that goes with modern life style. I have the geat pleasure of working with French colleagues in Brussels as a staff member of the European Union, also now as a French resident. There is much other cultures can learn from the French!
An unhappy death
the french think too much and look for meaning in everything. Therefor information overload burns up their minds with useless details about things that upset then to the point of making them I'll and unhappy. Why worry when you know that you will die one day so why not just enjoy the journey till it ends.
France, the world’s most depressed nation?
It's just that doctors and medicine are more available in France. Also there are great cultural differences in the interpretation of what "depression" actually is. For example, most of the worlds populatiions has no idea what a "guilt trip" is, or "being in denial" means. So how could any comparisons be made under these circumstances. I've lived many years in the U.S.A. and other countries and I find more caring and seemingly happy people here in France than anywhere. I will point out that I live in a rural part of France, but then most of Frances population lives in small towns, villages, and is rural! It's very easy to see doctors immediately or almost immediately in France, even if you are not French and prescription drugs are much cheaper than elsewhere as well. In some cases 10 times cheaper than in the U.S.A.! The fact that only 45% of the French bothered to answer their surveys is probably because it's just not an issue of great concern here.
W.
France, the world’s most depressed nation?
Explained all at YouTube : ZEITGEIST: MOVING FORWARD | OFFICIAL RELEASE | 2011 - YouTube
They didn't do Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a high rate of depression, but they missed it.
mind over matter of carpetation and corruption
what's the mental state of mind of Sarkozy compared with the pathological lying of President Obama ---- does anybody out have a political scientific educated expert opinionated guest regarding this matter???
I've dealt with depression
I've dealt with depression for many years. The causes for me are genetics(several people in my family deal with some form or another), an undertreated thyroid condition, and environment. I can't control the first cause and I'm unable to get people to listen to the second cause, however, I've taken many steps to deal with the third cause and I'm hoping that in a couple of years I'll be able to have a permanent change of scenery and move abroad. I'm also hoping that once I get someone to listen to me, my second cause will be alieviated to a certain extent. Being in the US makes it very difficult to deal with my depression as it is very easy to get in a vicious cycle with how American society sees people, especially one that has mental illness, a disability, and is barely getting by financially.
France, the world’s most depressed nation?
It's just that doctors and medicine are more available in France. Also there are great cultural differences in the interpretation of what "depression" actually is. For example, most of the worlds populatiions has no idea what a "guilt trip" is, or "being in denial" means. So how could any comparisons be made under these circumstances. I've lived many years in the U.S.A. and other countries and I find more caring and seemingly happy people here in France than anywhere. I will point out that I live in a rural part of France, but then most of Frances population lives in small towns, villages, and is rural! It's very easy to see doctors immediately or almost immediately in France, even if you are not French and prescription drugs are much cheaper than elsewhere as well. In some cases 10 times cheaper than in the U.S.A.! The fact that only 45% of the French bothered to answer their surveys is probably because it's just not an issue of great concern here.
W.
depressed nation?
Don't talk wet you French media, you need to try what we are having to suffer here in the UK. a few weeks of our situation would soon have you scurrying back across La Manche.
As for depressants, our quacks are just as willing to dish out the pills, and have been doing it for some time, with a great deal of justification I may add.
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