Almost one in ten Icelanders experience symptoms of depression. Young women are most likely to feel depressed: almost 18% of all girls and women aged 15-24 report to experience symptoms of depression, the highest rate in Europe. According to the European Health Interview Survey in 2015 Iceland had the fourth highest proportion of people with depressive symptoms.
Rate of severe depressive symptoms second highest
The survey shows that nearly 9% of people in Iceland have depressive symptoms. This is the fourth highest rate among participating countries. Just over 4% had severe symptoms, which is the second highest rate in Europe.
Hungary had the highest frequency of depressive symptoms, little over 10%, followed by Portugal with 10% and Sweden with just over 9%, followed by Iceland. Of the Nordic countries Finland had the lowest reported depressive symptoms, just under 5%. Norway and Denmark are just over 6%. The lowest rate in Europe was reported in the Czech Republic, around 3%.
In an apparent contradiction Iceland has consistently scored as one of the happiest nations in the world, even as a relatively high number of Icelanders report feelings of depression.
Read more: Icelanders are the third happiest nation in the world, according to new study
Based on an European survey
The European Health survey measures depressive symptoms using an 8 item Patient Health Questionnaire. Those who are measured as having depressive symptoms need to have two out of eight items for over half the time in the previous two weeks. One of these must be either 1) little interest in or pleasure from doing things; or 2) feeling down, depressed or hopeless.
To count as having major depressive symptoms five out of eight items must apply for over half the time in the previous two weeks. One of these must be either 1) little interest in or pleasure from doing things; or 2) feeling down, depressed or hopeless.
Almost one in ten Icelanders experience symptoms of depression. Young women are most likely to feel depressed: almost 18% of all girls and women aged 15-24 report to experience symptoms of depression, the highest rate in Europe. According to the European Health Interview Survey in 2015 Iceland had the fourth highest proportion of people with depressive symptoms.
Rate of severe depressive symptoms second highest
The survey shows that nearly 9% of people in Iceland have depressive symptoms. This is the fourth highest rate among participating countries. Just over 4% had severe symptoms, which is the second highest rate in Europe.
Hungary had the highest frequency of depressive symptoms, little over 10%, followed by Portugal with 10% and Sweden with just over 9%, followed by Iceland. Of the Nordic countries Finland had the lowest reported depressive symptoms, just under 5%. Norway and Denmark are just over 6%. The lowest rate in Europe was reported in the Czech Republic, around 3%.
In an apparent contradiction Iceland has consistently scored as one of the happiest nations in the world, even as a relatively high number of Icelanders report feelings of depression.
Read more: Icelanders are the third happiest nation in the world, according to new study
Based on an European survey
The European Health survey measures depressive symptoms using an 8 item Patient Health Questionnaire. Those who are measured as having depressive symptoms need to have two out of eight items for over half the time in the previous two weeks. One of these must be either 1) little interest in or pleasure from doing things; or 2) feeling down, depressed or hopeless.
To count as having major depressive symptoms five out of eight items must apply for over half the time in the previous two weeks. One of these must be either 1) little interest in or pleasure from doing things; or 2) feeling down, depressed or hopeless.
