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Most Depressed Country in Europe Revealed – How Does Your Nation Rank for Mental Health?

 

A recent report uncovers alarming depression levels across Europe, spotlighting France as the continent’s highest depression hotspot before the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing data from the 2019 European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the study by France’s DREES (statistical arm of the health and social ministries) paints a stark picture of mental health trends among younger and older Europeans.

France Leads Europe in Depression Rates

Pre-pandemic, France recorded an 11% depression rate—the highest among European countries—based on the EHIS, which surveyed 300,000 people across the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Serbia. Conducted every six years, this marked the first time DREES used the 2019 data to gauge depression prevalence, leveraging eight questions from the Patient Health Questionnaire. “We assessed depressive syndromes over the past two weeks using specific criteria,” explained Lisa Troy, the study’s author, in an interview.

This comes amid a rising mental health crisis post-COVID, especially among young people in France and beyond, as multiple studies confirm.

Depression Across Age Groups: Young vs. Old

The DREES report zeroes in on two key demographics: youth aged 15-24 and seniors aged 70+. Northern and western European countries showed the highest overall depression statistics, but patterns shifted by age and region:

  • Young People (15-24): Depression spiked in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, with lower rates in southern and eastern Europe. Social isolation, unemployment, low income, and poor health—which raised depression risk by 32 points—were key drivers. Jocelyne Caboche, a neuroscience expert from CNRS, highlighted social media’s impact, noting its role in “harmful comparisons, body image issues, sleep loss, and cyberbullying,” especially among girls.
  • Older Adults (70+): Depression soared above 15% in Portugal, Romania, and Croatia, particularly among women and those in poor health. In Croatia and Latvia, where 40% of seniors report health struggles, depression hit 16% and 9%, respectively. Widowhood and social isolation further fueled these rates.

Why France Struggles with Depression

Caboche speculated that France’s high depression levels stem from an “accumulation of factors.” Despite robust healthcare and education, she stressed the need for better elderly care and investments in psychiatry and therapeutic innovation to curb mental health challenges.

Regional Depression Trends in Europe

  • Northern/Western Europe: High depression among youth, but rates dropped with age among seniors—a unique trend. “I was struck by how depressed young people were in northern countries versus the decline in older adults,” Troy noted.
  • Southern/Eastern Europe: Low youth depression contrasted with elevated rates in seniors, tied to poor health among older Europeans.

Study Limitations and Future Insights

The EHIS data isn’t flawless—variations in mental health questionnaires across countries may skew results. Still, the findings underscore depression risk factors like health, isolation, and socio-economic status, offering a roadmap for targeted interventions.

Tackling Europe’s Mental Health Crisis

With France leading pre-pandemic depression rankings, this report signals an urgent need to address mental wellness across age groups. From boosting youth mental health support to enhancing senior care in Europe, solutions lie in understanding these regional and demographic divides.

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