The prevention-depression.lu website had 55,000 visitors between October 2016 and January 2020, according to figures provided by Minister for Health Paulette Lenert in response to a parliamentary question this week. Around 48% of 12,000 people who took a test on the website were revealed to be suffering from depression. However, these statistics are not necessarily representative of the population as a whole, so RTL took a deep dive into the topic and how to go about seeking help.
Audio report in Luxembourgish.
Depression is a common illness, according to the World Health Organisation. Around 264 million people worldwide are affected, regardless of age group. According to the WHO, nearly 80,000 people die each year through suicide triggered by mental illness.
There are a number of symptoms related to the illness, from feeling low, to sleep irregularities, feelings of guilt, social isolation and suicidal thoughts.
Video in Luxembourgish
In comparison to the rest of the EU, the Luxembourg population is particularly affected by depression, according to a study which was presented by the Robert Koch Institute in December 2019. 250,000 people from 25 European countries participated in the study, completing a questionnaire on their feelings towards depression. Luxembourg ranked first with 10%, followed by Germany and Portugal. The EU average was 6.6%
The study also revealed that women were more likely to suffer from depression - around 8% of participants. Men were also affected but less so, with just 5% suffering across Europe.
In the Grand Duchy, around 12% of women are affected by depression, compared to 8.2% of men. The Luxembourg Institute of Health commented that above all, teenagers and young adults aged between 15 and 29 suffer from depression in the Grand Duchy.
Video in Luxembourgish
