Over 60 percent of Poles have symptoms of depression - study

More than 60 percent of Poles report symptoms of depression, according to new research.

A survey by UCE Research and Syno Poland for the ePsycholodzy.pl website showed that 62 percent respondents said that they experienced symptoms such as fatigue, lack of energy, bad moods or trouble sleeping.

At the same time, 33 percent declared that they did not observe any symptoms, while 6 percent couldn't tell.

"The fact that more than 60 percent of adult Poles indicate symptoms that may be associated with depression is very alarming," psychologist Michal Murgrabia, co-author of the study, commented on the survey results.

However, he added, "this does not mean that so many Poles are really struggling with the disease."

"An unnecessary sense of guilt, bad moods and clearly low satisfaction with the activities performed can be very burdensome and hinder everyday functioning," he said.

The most frequently reported depression symptom in the study was fatigue and lack of energy, which was suffered by 38 percent. A bad mood (29 percent) and sleep disorders placed second.

Up to 19 percent said that their concentration was impaired, 17 percent spoke of a pessimistic view of the future, 16 percent of low self-esteem and 13 percent said they had no pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed.

Nearly half of the respondents (47 percent) said that the symptoms of depression had not occurred before the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The last period has forced us to change a lot, the situation is still unstable, and therefore the increased level of stress associated with illness, death of a loved one or financial problems may lead to a general deterioration of the mental condition," Murgrabia said in a comment to the study.

The survey was conducted in early February this year on 1,040 adult Poles.