In my opinion, depression is widely underreported for a variety of reasons, however the underlying cause generally appears to be connected to the stigma associated with depressive disorders.
Although depression is common in Western Culture, it can be viewed as a weakness; as a result people may be ashamed, embarrassed or in denial of their condition, which creates an unwillingness to seek help. Also due to the stigma, individuals may fear that they will be treated differently by friends and family if a diagnosis of depression is made. In Non-Western Cultures the stigma can be even more prevalent, for example the topic of depression is considered taboo in Asian culture.
Additionally, as explained in Comer, the symptoms that come with depression
Although depression is common in Western Culture, it can be viewed as a weakness; as a result people may be ashamed, embarrassed or in denial of their condition, which creates an unwillingness to seek help. Also due to the stigma, individuals may fear that they will be treated differently by friends and family if a diagnosis of depression is made. In Non-Western Cultures the stigma can be even more prevalent, for example the topic of depression is considered taboo in Asian culture.
Additionally, as explained in Comer, the symptoms that come with depression