The Relationship Between Age and People's Attitudes and Understanding of Depression

In today's society, depression has become a psychological issue that cannot be ignored. According to the "2023 Blue Book on Mental Health in China", the number of depression patients in China has reached 95 million, of which over 28 million are under the age of 18, accounting for 30.28% of the total. However, many parents lack sufficient awareness of depression. In order to explore the relationship between people's age and their understanding and attitude towards depression, this study analyzed questionnaire data from 280 participants of different age groups and found that with advancing age, elderly individuals tend to view depression patients as posing a higher risk, while society places greater value on them. The results of this study are applicable to the varying social preferences observed in mental health education among individuals of diverse age groups. Additionally, these conclusions can function as supplementary information in the context of clinical psychotherapy.