Abstract
Research on depression in South Africa is vast. However, only recently have Cuadros et al. (2019) highlighted the importance of spatial heterogeneity to achieve a more in-depth understanding of depression. This approach allows for the circumstances experienced in different community clusters to be considered when seeking strategies to improve the wellbeing of those experiencing depression. In this study, women diagnosed with depression and who live in the community of Westbury, which is characterised by high levels of community violence, were interviewed to establish how they construct depression. A qualitative inquiry provided an in-depth understanding and account of these women’s experiences. Thematic analysis embedded in the social constructionism framework and guided by the socioecological model of health promotion facilitated an understanding of depression as constructed on individual, social, and communal levels. On an individual level, depression was constructed as emotional (through irritability, hopelessness, and a changed experience of self), behavioural (where suicidality, social withdrawal, and substance misuse were rampant), physical (in which bodily pains and anxiety were experienced) and cognitive (through rumination). Social constructions of depression were observed through intimate partner violence or infidelity, family conflict, and the burden of care for children. Finally, community constructions of depression were reminiscent of exposure to violence, socioeconomic challenges, and community-level stigmatisation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the necessity for a multilevel approach to mitigate the individual, social, and community drivers of depression in Westbury. These may take the form of emotional and financial support, community level activities, family-focused interventions, and public awareness campaigns to promote community understandings of mental health disorders. Moreover, this study’s findings are crucial, especially in the context of COVID-19, since the social drivers of community violence have escalated and South Africans’ overall mental health has been severely compromised during the pandemic (Oyenubi & Nwosu, 2020). Thus, a multipronged and multidisciplinary approach focused on...
M.A. (Psychology)