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Josephine Ma

Chinese men suffering from depression are dying at a higher rate than women, according to a new study that points to younger, urban and more educated males as particular at-risk groups.
The study conducted by scientists from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Shandong University, was published in the latest issue of China CDC Weekly.
The findings were based on a 12-year follow-up study of a survey in 2010.
That questionnaire involved nearly 100,000 people from across China, with a few thousand more women than men taking part. The survey is part of the China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance, which includes several periodic national surveys conducted by the CDC to collect data about chronic and non-communicable diseases and related risk factors.
In the survey analysis, 5,683 of respondents – 5.78 per cent – were found to have mild to moderate depression, while 341 – 0.35 per cent – had severe depression.
Of the 7,333 participants who had died since the 2010 survey was taken, the study found those with depression had a higher mortality rate.
Among those with severe depression, the researchers found that urban-dwelling men under the age of 60 who had secondary school or higher education were at a greater risk of death.
The findings challenge previous assumptions that more advantaged younger or middle-aged educated urban men are less at risk of death from depression than women or less-educated people.
“It is concerning that among individuals with severe depression, the mortality rate for men was three times higher than that of women despite a higher prevalence of depression among women,” the researchers said in their paper.
“These disparities may stem from distinct psychological and behavioural responses to depression among different subgroups; for instance, men were less likely to seek help compared to women, and younger individuals experienced higher levels of depression-related stigma than older individuals.”
Among individuals with severe depression, the mortality rate for men was three times higher than that of women
Study by CDC and Shandong University
According to the researchers, the findings highlighted the importance of addressing the mental health needs of at-risk individuals, despite public perceptions that such people are better off in terms of their health, economic well-being or social status.
The study also revealed that severe depression increased the risks of suicide and heart disease, findings that are in line with similar studies in other countries.
According to the CDC, about 95 million people in China suffer from depression. There are about 280,000 suicides annually in the country, 40 per cent of which involve people with severe depression.
Among adults, the prevalence of lifetime depressive disorders among the population is 6.8 per cent, among which 3.4 per cent are diagnosed with severe depression, according to the CDC.
Aside from metabolic factors, the higher risks for heart disease could be a result of unhealthy habits such as smoking and sedentary lifestyles, the study suggested.
While many previous studies have focused on the connection between suicide and depression, the CDC paper also called for more attention to the higher risks of accidental deaths among depression patients.
“While prior research has mainly concentrated on the connection between depression and suicide, it is essential to recognise that depression influences non-suicidal injuries as well. Individuals with depression face an elevated risk of fatalities due to accidents and interpersonal violence,” the paper said.
The paper cited a 2023 article, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Heliyon, which said that China reported an 8.29 per cent prevalence of moderate to severe depression in 2021.
Another study published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2021 found that the lifetime prevalence of adult depressive disorders in China was 6.8 per cent.
The analysis also showed that the prevalence of depression among Chinese women was 4.2 per cent, significantly higher than that of men at 3 per cent.
Depression among adolescents in China has also caught the attention of scientists. The “Report on the Development of National Mental Health in China”, published in 2021, found that 24.6 per cent of adolescent respondents said they had experienced symptoms of depression at least once, but did not necessarily suffer from depression.
Scientists have called for more attention to anxiety factors for young people in China.
The World Health Organization has said around 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline. You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.


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Fitness trainer Ali Dowding has battled depression in the past, and wants people to know it can be overcome. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

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News

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Science

CDC research challenges assumption that more advantaged men are in less danger than women or less-educated people


CDC research challenges assumption that more advantaged men are in less danger than women or less-educated people.


China education

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