More than 300 million people worldwide, of all ages, suffer from severe clinical depression. The World Health Organization rates ‘difficult clinical depression’ as one of the most distressing and affecting diseases in society, due to the required medical resources, the poor quality of life of patients and the indirect costs that the disease causes.
“Global studies indicate a very significant increase in depression following the Corona epidemic due to isolation and uncertainty,” explains Dr. Tali Vishna, an expert psychiatrist who warns that the phenomenon also exists in the ultra-Orthodox sector, and on a larger scale than commonly thought. More than 300 million people worldwide , Of all ages, patients with clinical depression are difficult to treat, the most common psychiatric diagnosis.
“The ultra-Orthodox population has faced an even more extreme process than other populations. Lack of accessible information about the disease within the community and unsuitable conditions for isolation made it very difficult to cope with the plague. Many ultra-Orthodox live in very small, unsuitable homes. But in the yeshiva, and with the restrictions of the plague, many faced severe crises. And depression, when the ultra-Orthodox population experienced direct harm. “
Dr. Vishna adds: “The ultra-Orthodox public has a strong community and family support system. The community provides solutions such as reinforcement classes, structured support groups, and counseling from other rabbis and supporters in the community. For example, many mothers move for a period to the parents’ home after giving birth, and in cases of postpartum depression, the mother and daughters of the family will help raise the baby, along with caring for her baby.
In fact, according to studies, two-thirds of women with postpartum depression turn to informal help. “
She claims that in the ultra-Orthodox sector a very high percentage of patients seek medical treatment in a state of severe depression, with the informal options no longer providing an adequate answer. However, “due to the avoidance of professional treatment, the duration of the disease may be prolonged, and the symptoms may worsen and cause further harm to the patient.”
Depression has many symptoms, including: poor mood or sadness, low energy and fatigue, inability to concentrate, abnormal sleep and eating patterns, feelings of guilt and inability to experience pleasure. Depression also affects employment, education and relationships. Some depressed patients are unable to work or study (depression is one of the common causes of long-term absence from work). They have difficulty managing healthy relationships and effective communication.
Depression can also be detrimental to overall health, and manifests itself in fatigue, anxiety, indigestion, chronic pain or weight changes. In the long run depression that is not treated properly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and abnormal levels of lipids in the blood. The average age for the onset of the disease is mid-20s. For the treatment of depression immediately upon the onset of the disease, implications for the continuation of life: rapid return to a normative life routine, reduction in concomitant treatments, reduction in concomitant morbidity (cardiovascular disease, obesity and more). In cases of hospitalization, a decrease in the number and duration of hospitalizations.
Dr. Vishna: “As a rule, members of the ultra-Orthodox society will often prefer to treat depression with medications that should not be taken daily. They do not want to feel sick or be caught blue. “In this way, if a guy is sitting all day, he does not have to hide the fact that he is taking medication and he also does not have to deal with patients for a period of time.”
The drugs commonly used today work on a mechanism aimed at raising serotonin or dopamine in the brain. Serotonin is responsible, among other things, for mood and some depressed patients struggle with its low level. These drugs help many patients with depression. The latest innovation in the field is a new drug, which works by a new mechanism on the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is not sufficiently produced in patients with depression and is given in a new way.