Mental health disorder and politics: assessing the implications of depression on political participation.

Abstract

Health significantly affects the political behavior of an individual yet the implications of mental health disorders, such as depression, on an individual’s political participation has yet to be explored. Depression is a common mental health disorder that is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 million people suffer from depression worldwide with at least one (1) out of four (4) individuals having some form of depression at some point in their lifetime. Depression, alike other mental health disorders, affects every aspect of an individual’s life – the individual’s thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and behavior. As such, it would likely affect an individual’s attitude towards politics and his/her political participation. Despite this, the implications of depression on an individual’s political engagement has yet to be explored. Thus, the study aims to investigate the implications of depression on an individual’s political participation. It focuses on electoral participation and participation in street protests as forms of political participation and not only looked at their (non) participation in such activities but also at their perceptions of these forms of political participation. The study also delved into the role of stigma and discrimination on the individual’s political engagement.