Prevalence of Depression amongst Nurses Working at Central Regional Referral Hospital

Depression has become a leading cause of mental illness and disability throughout the world. However, much of the cases remains undiagnosed owing to various reasons such as stigmatization, lack of awareness etc... Similarly, it is estimated that only about five percent of the individuals with depression receive treatment in Bhutan. When depression is not addressed properly it may lead to suicide with subsequent loss to family, society and economy. While much are being done to address the issue in the public, often it is the health workers themselves that are least cared of. Among the health workers, the nurses are often exposed to various risk factors of depression due to the work overload, conflicts at work, night shifts and lack of professional autonomy. Therefore, it becomes quite pertinent to look into the mental health of nurses, as they are the core service provider, that requires them to be in constant touch with many patients. This study aims to find the prevalence of depression among nurses working in Central Regional Referral Hospital in Gelephu.