[beth]

I just heard on the news this morning that Chinese women have the highest suicide rate in the world. Depression seems to be taking the world by storm, and having a lot of money and possessions certainly does not seem to make us happier. In fact, it can often be the reverse. My teenage daughter's friends seem to be talking about feeling depressed quite regularly, I don't remember my schoolfriends saying such things. Are we becoming more depressed than our parents and grandparents??

[babydawn]

I think that with the way the world is today, it is making us more depressed. Our grandparents had to work really hard for everything they had. None of them went out and bought a brand new home right after they got married, or a brand new car. Meals were not so easily and readily available, (fast food, take out, prepakaged stuff). Women had to actually cook, and it took a lot of time to prepare those meals. These are just a few examples. We live in a world where everything has to be FUN for anyone to want to do any of it. I think the lack of work and the increase in material possessions has a lot to do with the depression rate. I also think that there is a lot more pressure on adults. Moms back in the day were just that, moms. Now they are expected (or some feel) to have a career, or they aren't "fulfilled" (I don't feel this way, but I hear about it all of the time), they are expected to be the perfect wife a size 6, 120 lbs, they are expected to be a chef, and a chauffuer, and a seamstress, and and and....the list goes on forever. Bottom line, we are human and have human limits. Men feel like they have to make six figures or more a year to be able to provide the "necessities" (or what people have come to believe are nessecities). I think there is just enormous pressure on people that wasn't there 40-50 years ago. And I think that children are not taught as strong of a work ethic, just because there isn't as much for us as parents to have them do. We don't live on farms. It took a lot more work to get by back then than it does now. There are also a lot of things that our children are bombarded with...sex, drugs, violence, gangs, pornography, etc...stuff that was very uncommon back in the "olden days." I know I am rambling but do you see where I am going?

[beth]

Hi Babydawn, I think you've got a lot of the reasons for an increasing depression rate covered! I agree that not having to strive for things leaves kids in particular with a lack of a sense of personal acheivement. I grew up in a middle class environment, but looking back I had nothing compared to what children and teenagers own today. My husband and I have deliberately limited the amount of clothing and objects we have given our two kids for that reason. Mind you, although they have less than their peers, they still have heaps more than we ever had! But we wanted them to have an experience of being able to do with less, and not have everything they want, because life doesn't always hand you everything you want! I'm not sure we've done a great parenting job (time will tell!) but I know that some of my elder daughter's friends have been given an excess of material objects, and now they are generally discontent, look bored and/or depressed, and some of them have progressed into early drug taking and sexual experimentation beyond the peer group norm. These kids have been everywhere and done everything and they're still in school and I really wonder what they are going to do to get a buzz during the remainder of their lives. Again, time will tell.

[mcmama]

So why are Chinese women depressed? Are they depressed in China, or abroad? Are they depressed over having too much or too little? Does it have anything to do with the "affluenza" you were discussing?

[lostchild1962]

Beth,
Ive heard that as well..with the dark times we live in..no doubt this happens..

[duckiesam]

When I was in high school I was very depressed. My situation was that I didn't have many friends, my parents didn't care about having a good relationship with me, I was made fun of in school, I dressed differently than other people because my parents didn't want to buy me nice clothes or even decent ones only because they were too cheap.
I am so glad those years are over. I feel 100% better now.
The things that could have been different for me are ......one, my parents could have made sure I at least had some clothes that looked like other kids my age. They could have talked to me more and not judged me so much. They could have been understanding, loving and supportive. They could have gone to counseling with me or by themselves. They could have had me do things that made me feel good about myself. By accomplishing some goals on my own, I would have had a lot more confidence.
These are just a few suggestions. Hope they help.

[shazbo]

YEARS AGO women use to stop at home and look after the children now a days women are more under pressure trying to run a house look after the kids and hold a full time job as well . plus theres credit cards which dont help much getting people in debt . years ago if you couldnt afford it you didnt have it

[seeemilywrite]

Chinese women may have a big part in the way women in China are teated in general. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, cause I'm talking out of nowhere right now. As i rememebr it however in China women are seen as lesser citizens. Males children are preferable and women typically are not considered valuable members of society. Not being considered important would make me a little depressed I think.

[beth]

Originally Posted by seeemilywrite

Chinese women may have a big part in the way women in China are teated in general. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, cause I'm talking out of nowhere right now. As i rememebr it however in China women are seen as lesser citizens. Males children are preferable and women typically are not considered valuable members of society. Not being considered important would make me a little depressed I think.

Yes, I think that womens' roles in Chinese society had a lot to do with their alarmingly high depression (and suicide) rate. Now that the governnment has adopted the one child policy for years to curb population, and baby girls are often left in boxes to die so that the couple can have another chance at having a male baby, this too has to have a hugh impact on the self-esteem of women. Woman cannot escape the fact that they are second class citizens.

[seeemilywrite]

Yup. that would be enough to upset anyone. look at people who live in highly populated areas like NY, were all on antidepressants here, and we have half the iissues, and population that they do there.