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Why I am interested in the topic of depression
In a previous life I did a year of psychology at Wits, while getting a BA degree. Yet I don’t remember a word of it. Nor did I learn anything I can recall benefitted me in dealing with life, post university. I am now writing a book on depression and am experiencing déjà vu as […]
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Words that capture the very essence of depression
Oftentimes language is a mirror that reflects how different people and cultures experience the world. In English, the word depression has become a clinical shorthand for a medical diagnosis, a global public health concern, and, for many, a personal battle. Although it is also often used very loosely. When a child can’t have his birthday […]
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The silence that hurts: Confronting suicide in Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time when the world collectively pauses to confront a subject often cloaked in silence and stigma. Suicide remains one of life’s most devastating paradoxes: an irreversible, permanent act, chosen to escape what is almost always a temporary problem. It goes against the most primal instinct we have – to […]
Giving a voice to a silent pandemic
Let’s talk about depression
For the last couple of years, best-selling author David Gemmell, has been writing a book on depression. Initially he was not aware of the sheer enormity of the problem the disease presents to society and the dreadful consequences of it when left untreated.
‘What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation.’ — Glenn Close, actor
You can catch david gemmell’s interview on chai fm 101.9 here
five things to know about depression
key facts
- An estimated 3.8% of the world’s population experiences depression.
- Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men.
- Depression and anxiety are estimated to cost nearly US$1-trillion annually due to lost work days (World Health Organisation – WHO).
- Globally, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries experiencing mental disorders, including depression, receive no treatment (WHO).
- Suicide is a significant risk factor associated with depression. It is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29 year olds.
© David Gemmell 2025
David Gemmell 