World Depression Day is an annual observance held on February 13th, aimed at heightening awareness about depression and fostering global education on mental health. This serious mental health condition impacts millions of people worldwide.

Official statistics, presented by those seeking a serious and authoritative demeanour in the face of this daunting issue, reveal the gravity of the situation. Yet, what lies beneath the official narrative?

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that a staggering 264 million individuals of all ages grapple with depression globally, with a pronounced prevalence in so-called developed countries. As the renowned Gabor Maté emphasizes, the research literature pinpoints three universal stress factors: uncertainty, lack of information, and loss of control. Let’s call them the ‘depression drivers’.

However, the official discourse often falls short, leaving much to be desired. It leaves out many environmental and individual factors aside. Focusing mainly on ‘depression as a form of not being productive’. Considering the pressures exerted by the financial system, consumerism, and capitalism, it becomes evident that society, connection, compassion, and the human soul are assigned minimal value, while nature and ecosystems are valued primarily for their profit potential. In the end, none of these seem to matter as a factor.

In a system prioritizing financial gain, it’s not surprising that an increasing number of individuals find it challenging to cope. Studies also suggest that by-products of the relentless pursuit of growth, such as various forms of pollution (chemical, psychological, and electromagnetic), are the root causes of mental health problems. Not actual stress of normal life.

In this system, where success is measured by rankings, sales, and revenue; meaningful questions about the impact of an individual, the ability to forge connections, and the value perceived by a society regularly take a backseat. The same happens to questions about the environmental factors.

World Depression Day should serve as a stark reminder of the global repercussions of depression, urging collective efforts to address this mental health challenge urgently. Unfortunately, it typically transforms into a superficial celebration of statistics, lacking substantive action due to the inherent difficulty in implementing real change. In a sense — we acknowledge the issue, but can’t do much, so let’s move on!

Do I then suggest a complete rejection of the world we inhabit to start fixing this? Does it call for a revolution or the vilification of capitalists? The answers, in my opinion, are not that simplistic. Returning to Gabor Maté’s wisdom, “Passion creates, addiction consumes,” encouraging a nuanced understanding of the complexities at play.

There must be a sort of balance to be found between obsessing to solve a problem (addiction/revolution) and taking pleasure from solving a difficult problem (passion/evolution).

Taking into the account that it would be hard to offer 7 billion people a new solution on the spot without much trouble, the concern becomes even more serious. Fine! You could lead a revolution. But how would you know if what new solution you offer is of greater value than the old? Rejecting the old rarely bears fruit. Including and extending does!

I am personally a true believer in localized action. Which, again, does not necessarily mean I am against globalization. Localized action on your family, friends, or even neighbours. And yourself. How many of them do you really know? With how many of them do you regularly share a discourse or emotions? With how many is it actually possible? And there is more. The very important ‘I’ factor. Ego. The one marketed very negatively at the moment. But nonetheless, significant. Simplified here, for the purpose of the discourse, to one question. How much time do you actually spend to listen to your needs, vs buying or accepting answers on what your needs are or might be?

This is what I’d encourage you to start from. Revolt against everything you hear, until you have built your own point of view based on experience. And bond and connect.

And start thinking — do all the technology advancements we made really have no significant impact on our mental health?