For a country full of people with a reputation of being laid-back, and having the ultimate "she'll be right" attitude, New Zealand has a relatively high prevalence of anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. Surpassed only by the USA for anxiety, Ukraine and France for depression, and the Ukraine and USA for substance abuse, we are right up there statistically.
Mental illness is the leading cause for Kiwi's taking extended periods off work - 1 in 5 New Zealanders will experience some form of mental health disorder each year.
An important thing to consider when applying for income protection insurance is if at some point you have discussed with your doctor how you are feeling on any given day. That conversation may be recorded on your notes as you "feeling depressed" or "suffering anxiety". If it is not disclosed in your original application (whether unintentional or not) these seemingly innocent remarks can pose a serious problem when it comes time to claim.
So, is there actually a difference between "depression" and just "general sadness"? There certainly is! Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful or upsetting circumstances - we all experience sadness at specific points of our lives. Depression however, is a physical illness with many more varied symptoms than just an unhappy mood.
People suffering from depression are often subjected to well-intentioned friends giving them the "harden-up" or "snap out of it" speech…Imagine telling a diabetic to will their pancreas to produce more insulin...
Mental Health Awareness week runs from the 8th to the 14th of October. If you think that you, or a loved one may be suffering from depression or anxiety, there are a myriad of resources at your disposal. A good start is www.depression.org.nz.