Thanks for your kind words and for the great questions!
The relationship between poverty and mental health disorders, including depression, is complex. Poverty exacerbates depression, and depression, alongside other mental health disorders, can drive people further into poverty through reduced productivity, decreased income, and isolation. (Lund et al. 2011) But it is incorrect to conclude that poverty on its own causes depression. If it did, we would see rates of depression at 100% rather than 25% in the slums of Kampala. Our model looks at four distinct triggers for depression: grief, life changes, loneliness/isolation, and conflict. Interestingly, we see from our well-being indicators that many times, restoring a woman’s mental health can increase her productivity and livelihood; for instance, 16% of our former clients reported increases in work attendance after the conclusion of therapy.
Yes, in self-reported data, we have to be very careful to ensure we measure correctly and there aren’t existing biases or misrepresentations. We work directly with an external firm to help with this. They conduct our endline evaluations. As mentioned above, we also look at well-being indicators to help demonstrate our impact, such as a 13% increase in family food security, a 30% increase in school attendance, and a 28% increase in women feeling socially connected.
Poverty exacerbates depression, and depression, alongside other mental health disorders, can drive people further into poverty through reduced productivity, decreased income, and isolation. (Lund et al. 2011) But it is incorrect to conclude that poverty on its own causes depression. If it did, we would see rates of depression at 100% rather than 25% in the slums of Kampala.
What I was wondering about was not the prevalence of depression, but rather how treatable it is. For the reasons you described of poverty exacerbating mental health, it seems like depression should be much less treatable in Kampala than in the US. Yet SM’s success rate indicates that depression is at least as treatable and possibly more treatable than depression in the US. Those are the two things that I struggle to reconcile.
Measurement of other well-being indicators is a great corroboration of your results.
I agree that based on all of the barriers and life challenges that it seems like it would be harder to treat depression in Kampala. As mentioned in some of the other answers, I think the model itself, being culturally appropriate and community-centered, as well as the interpersonal bonds, play a significant role in the program’s success. Also, the fact that we work where the women are, in refugee camps, slums, or schools, to deliver our services.
Thanks for your kind words and for the great questions!
The relationship between poverty and mental health disorders, including depression, is complex. Poverty exacerbates depression, and depression, alongside other mental health disorders, can drive people further into poverty through reduced productivity, decreased income, and isolation. (Lund et al. 2011) But it is incorrect to conclude that poverty on its own causes depression. If it did, we would see rates of depression at 100% rather than 25% in the slums of Kampala. Our model looks at four distinct triggers for depression: grief, life changes, loneliness/isolation, and conflict. Interestingly, we see from our well-being indicators that many times, restoring a woman’s mental health can increase her productivity and livelihood; for instance, 16% of our former clients reported increases in work attendance after the conclusion of therapy.
Yes, in self-reported data, we have to be very careful to ensure we measure correctly and there aren’t existing biases or misrepresentations. We work directly with an external firm to help with this. They conduct our endline evaluations. As mentioned above, we also look at well-being indicators to help demonstrate our impact, such as a 13% increase in family food security, a 30% increase in school attendance, and a 28% increase in women feeling socially connected.
What I was wondering about was not the prevalence of depression, but rather how treatable it is. For the reasons you described of poverty exacerbating mental health, it seems like depression should be much less treatable in Kampala than in the US. Yet SM’s success rate indicates that depression is at least as treatable and possibly more treatable than depression in the US. Those are the two things that I struggle to reconcile.
Measurement of other well-being indicators is a great corroboration of your results.
I agree that based on all of the barriers and life challenges that it seems like it would be harder to treat depression in Kampala. As mentioned in some of the other answers, I think the model itself, being culturally appropriate and community-centered, as well as the interpersonal bonds, play a significant role in the program’s success. Also, the fact that we work where the women are, in refugee camps, slums, or schools, to deliver our services.