Chronic depression indicates that 7,2% of EU citizens suffer, while in Cyprus the percentage is much lower, at 4,7%, according to data collected in 2019 and published by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union.
According to the same data, the percentage of women with chronic depression is higher than that of men in both the EU average and in Cyprus.
The percentage of people who report having chronic depression in Cyprus has increased compared to 2014, when the last measurements were recorded, from 3,6%. The EU average increased slightly by 0,3%.
The highest percentages among the Member States were recorded for 2019 in Slovenia (15,1%), Portugal (12,2%) and Sweden (11,7%).
The lowest rates were recorded in Romania (1,0%), Bulgaria (2,7%) and Malta (3,5%).
According to the same data, in 2019 the percentage of women with chronic depression (8,7%) was higher than that of men (5,6%) on average in the EU.
In Cyprus in 2019, chronic depression was recorded for 5,8% of women and 3,4% of men.
The highest rates of chronic depression among women were recorded in Portugal (16,4%) and Slovenia (14,3%). The highest rates of chronic depression among men were recorded in Slovenia (14,3%), Sweden (10,0%) and Germany (9,9%).
The data is made public on the occasion of the World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), as part of the global mental health awareness effort, according to a relevant announcement.