found that 13% of people say they are “engaged” in their work – they find it meaningful and look forward to it. Hari makes the flip point, an unfulfilled job can and does lead to depression (as can no job). If you view your jobs as a calling, not a chore, you are happier, more fulfilled. If you take that writing and compare it posts I have written on gratitude (eg Sheryl Sandberg, see end) and purpose (Oprah Winfrey, many others particularly Emily Esfahani Smith, on the power of meaning and purpose, the post on it here), you see an interesting chime, I think.Įspecially when looked at through the lens of a job, which most of the population spend most of their time doing. There is strong evidence that human beings need to feel their lives are meaningful – that they are doing something with purpose that makes a difference. Let’s look at one of those causes, and one of the solutions we can begin to see if we understand it differently. I kept learning that, in very different ways, we have become disconnected from things we really need, and this deep disconnection is driving this epidemic of depression and anxiety all around us. And there is growing evidence that our culture isn’t meeting those psychological needs for many – perhaps most – people. Hari writes in his book about 9 causes which have a social root (and 2 which are biological tendencies, ie genes which make it more likely to suffer). Although this still means a majority of relapse after 1 year. If you look at one 15 year long term study, there are some people who seem to fully recover.Ĭognitive therapy and other non-drug therapy also have efficacy rates similar or better to drug therapy. 20% to 35% of people are not depressed after 1 year. That broadly chimes with what I know of the academic literature (see here and here for examples)īut, you also have to flip it.

'It turns out that between 65 and 80% of people on antidepressants are depressed again within a year.' Johann Hari writes in his new book on depression (Guardian article)

9 causes of depression johann