Malta Registers One Of The Lowest Depression Rates In Europe
Amid the growing mental health crisis in Europe, Malta has emerged with notably lower reports of chronic depression rates, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Eurostat.
However, in the past two decades, antidepressant use has more than doubled across Europe.
The global consumption of antidepressant drugs (AD) experienced a dramatic surge, with Europeans leading the tally.
Chronic Depression Rates (Eurostat)
Between 2000 and 2020, the use of antidepressants rose by almost two and a half times in 18 European nations.
Despite this, Malta stands out with a relatively low rate of chronic depression reported among its citizens, according to Eurostat survey results.
In 2021, Malta had one of the lowest percentages of the population reporting chronic depression at 3.5 per cent, a figure substantially lower than the European Union average of 7.2 per cent.
These numbers become even more compelling considering the spike in anxiety and depression cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, as highlighted by OECD data.
The crisis has seen the happiest countries not necessarily consuming fewer antidepressants, this also seems to be the case in Malta.
While nations like Iceland and Portugal, which reported high levels of happiness in the World Happiness Report 2020, still had the highest antidepressant consumption, Malta’s antidepressant consumption rate is the 4th highest in the EU with %10 of the population taking them at least once in the previous 12 months.
Antidepressant consumption rate (Eurobarometer, European Commission)
However, it’s crucial to note that the reasons behind the escalation of antidepressant use in the last two decades are multifaceted, ranging from improved recognition of depression, availability of new AD drugs, changes in patient/GP attitudes, and evolving clinical guidelines, to an expansion in the range of conditions treated with ADs.
As we get a better insight into Malta’s general mental health through these numbers, do you think these numbers are accurate?