We knew it, we quantify it: at the end of the first confinement, the strictest, in the spring of 2020, one in seven people presented a depressive syndrome.
"In May 2020, 13.5% of people aged 15 or over living in France declared symptoms suggestive of a depressive state
"
, against 10.9% in 2019, indicates the Department of research, studies, evaluation and statistics (Drees) in the study it publishes this Friday.
Young people are the most affected with 22% of 15-24 year olds, which is double the figure for 2019. The increase in depressive states is also stronger among women, at 15.8% in 2020, against 12.5% in last year.
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These depressive states, which are stronger than depression, are manifested in particular by a loss of interest in doing things, depressed mood, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating.
These syndromes may have been linked to a deteriorated financial situation but also to housing conditions.
The study thus shows that "more than one in five people living in an apartment without a balcony presents a depressive syndrome".
The risk of plunging into a depressive state has also increased with the fact of not having been confined at home, with his parents, for example, or with his lover, as it was greater in the event of promiscuity, in a home very populated, too much compared to the area of its housing.
Being confined away from home, with one's spouse or partner, or with one's parents, is also associated with an increased risk.
Just like living in overcrowded homes or, conversely, living alone, or alone with his or her children.
More domestic violence
"Lone parents with their child (ren) were 14% to present a depressive syndrome in 2019 (or three points more than the average), against 21% in 2020 (or 7.5 points more than the average) ), ”Notes Drees of single-parent families.
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The study notes that "the fact of finding oneself confronted with violent, aggressive or degrading behavior on the part of one's spouse or partner is also linked to the depressive syndrome".
However, domestic violence increased by 9% in 2020 compared to 2019.
The institute, however, notes a drop during confinement: that of thoughts of death.
They concerned 3.8% of people aged 15 or over living in France, against 5% in 2019. Unfortunately, strict confinement is not the only one to trigger negative emotions: in January and February, in a poll, Public Health France highlighted an increase in the state of anxiety or depression.