Depression and Suicide in the “World’s Happiest Countries” DOI

Barry S. Fogel,

Xiaoling Jiang

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 380 - 429

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract The Nordic nations—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—and Switzerland are consistently among the world’s 10 “happiest countries.” Their residents enjoy excellent education healthcare, relatively high upward mobility, a small gender gap, natural beauty. However, their positive social determinants of health do not prevent depression or suicide. Compared with Western Europe overall, Finland Sweden have higher prevalence major depressive disorder. Suicide rates for both genders in Sweden, Switzerland; men Iceland; women Denmark Norway. Cultural differences help explain epidemiology. has historical trauma, tradition stoicism, widespread binge drinking. highly prevalent sexual harassment, leading to working women. Denmark’s hedonistic culture underlies lifestyle-related chronic medical conditions. Norway’s athletic, outdoor is antidepressant. French, Italian, German regions differ expressions depression.

Language: Английский

Cultural Correlates and Clinical Consequences DOI

Barry S. Fogel,

Xiaoling Jiang

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 140 - 160

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract Cultural identity is associated with diet, activities, sleeping habits, and patterns of substance use. All directly relate to the risk expressions depression bipolar spectrum. Related structural factors include housing quality; environmental hazards; quality food, healthcare, public education; availability highly lethal means self-harm. It influences prevalence phenotypes: melancholic, anxious, primarily somatic, or externalized “masculine depression.” External stigma universal, but its details are culture-dependent. The acceptability feasibility specific treatments vary by culture. Before prescribing against a patient’s culturally based biases, clinician should consider not only medication psychotherapy also lifestyle changes; complementary, alternative, integrative medicine; antidepressant smartphone apps; light therapy; non-invasive brain stimulation. Depression biomarkers soon may have role in selection that both compatible likely work.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

Depression and Social Class: A Four-Dimensional View DOI

Barry S. Fogel,

Xiaoling Jiang

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 113 - 139

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract A simple correlation of income, social class, and depression risk is misleading. Education, occupation, wealth, heritage can be as important income in determining status. The practical meaning a nominal numerical varies by place residence. Relevant mediators are place’s cost living, distribution public policies related to housing, healthcare, support. Within racial groups the United States, median household wealth vary greatly national origin. Open expression depressive emotions more likely acceptable upper classes, somatic especially common lower classes. Non-irritable presentations hypomania sometimes normalized class. change class either direction entail loneliness loss capital that contributes depression. Effective treatment require adaptation class-related circumstances.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

Japan: Invisible Double-Edged Swords DOI

Barry S. Fogel,

Xiaoling Jiang

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 293 - 341

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract Traditional Japanese culture uniquely combines elements of Buddhism, Daoism, and Shintō. It is more collectivistic than Western individualistic Chinese culture. Aesthetics organizational are highly developed, with survival value external appeal but underlying negative or risky implications. Communication high-context, understated, often non-verbal paralinguistic. Self-construal interdependent. Shūdan ishiki (group consciousness) universal, ba no kuuki wo yomu (“reading the air”) an essential social skill. Melancholy normalized, suicide rationalized romanticized. Haji (shame) a common reaction to error failure, sometimes unbearable point suicide. Distinctive presentations depression self-harm arise from this cultural context, including kodokushi (lonely death), karōshi (death overwork), shin-gata utsubyo ("new type depression” “modern depression”). Depression can be obscured by normalization melancholy bipolarity culturally sanctioned overwork pleasure-seeking.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

China: Confucian Harmony and Dissonance DOI

Barry S. Fogel,

Xiaoling Jiang

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 201 - 292

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract Conflicts of China’s traditional Confucian culture with modern realities contribute to depression and suicide in Chinese immigrants Western countries, international students, rural including internal migrants their “left-behind” family members. Traditions include authoritarian parenting, extreme emphasis on academic success, obligations filial piety, rigid gender roles. Immigrants experience acculturative stress distancing. In culture, is heavily stigmatized, its overt expression discouraged. Negative emotions often are expressed metaphorically. Treatment can be complicated by fear medications reluctance self-disclose psychotherapy. Clinicians address this eliciting patients’ personal illness narratives, disclosing a diagnosis stages using language compatible models beliefs, negotiating personalized treatment plan.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

Depression and Suicide in the “World’s Happiest Countries” DOI

Barry S. Fogel,

Xiaoling Jiang

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 380 - 429

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Abstract The Nordic nations—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—and Switzerland are consistently among the world’s 10 “happiest countries.” Their residents enjoy excellent education healthcare, relatively high upward mobility, a small gender gap, natural beauty. However, their positive social determinants of health do not prevent depression or suicide. Compared with Western Europe overall, Finland Sweden have higher prevalence major depressive disorder. Suicide rates for both genders in Sweden, Switzerland; men Iceland; women Denmark Norway. Cultural differences help explain epidemiology. has historical trauma, tradition stoicism, widespread binge drinking. highly prevalent sexual harassment, leading to working women. Denmark’s hedonistic culture underlies lifestyle-related chronic medical conditions. Norway’s athletic, outdoor is antidepressant. French, Italian, German regions differ expressions depression.

Language: Английский

Citations

0