Experiences of depression in Japan: a qualitative study

Depression is one of the three most prevalent disorders in the world. In Japan, depression has been drawing increasing social attention due to its economic and societal costs and high rates of suicide. This study explored people’s experiences of depression in Japan to better understand how they went through the process of becoming depressed and healing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 adults (5 males and 6 females; Average age = 35.36, SD = 12.01) who had suffered from depression and were recovered at the time of the study. A grounded theory analysis generated three phases in the experience of depression: Phase 1: Loss of Normalcy, in which physical and psychological symptoms gradually disrupted everyday functioning; Phase 2: Entrenched, in which participants felt that they had hit the bottom; and Phase 3: One Step at a Time, in which participants slowly moved toward recovery. While participants’ experiences of depression were broadly similar to those reported in qualitative studies from Western countries, feelings of isolation and alienation were more pronounced, possibly reflecting the collectivist culture and stronger stigma around mental illness in Japan.