People in remote rural areas have to deal with a wide range of stressors ranging from climatic conditions, financial insecurities, pest plagues and isolation that may cause them to have depressive symptoms. This may lead to alcoholism or alcohol addiction, which can also turn into a life threatening disease, if it is left untreated. Men in rural areas particularly tend to consume unsafe amounts of alcohol. There is a difference between stress and depression. Stress is the response to a challenging situation and occurs when there is an imbalance in demand from you and the resources you have to adhere to this demand. Sometimes, stress may be positive as it pushes you to get things done, but its severity may lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. In order to get diagnosed with depression, a person should have at least five or more symptoms, such as feeling sad or flat and losing interest and pleasure in daily activities. There are a host of reasons for the consumption of alcohol as a coping strategy in depression, such as long term health risk and alcohol dependence. According to statistics, there are higher drinking rates in rural areas as compared to urban regions. Barriers in accessing mental health facilities may include not understanding their symptoms and lack of adequate healthcare. Self help coping strategies can include visiting a doctor and having an understanding of the fact that you are drinking too much. Read full report below:
