A new study of attitudes towards depression, alcohol and suicide in two cultural groups reveals widely differing views.
Previous research has shown that rates of depression are lower among Protestants than among Jews, and that men have lower rates than women. It's been argued that this merely reflects the different ways these groups have dealing with the problem.

In a survey for the UK Economic & Social Research Council, researchers at the University of London found that Protestants had more tolerant attitudes towards alcohol than Jews and, indeed, drank more. They were also somewhat more accepting of suicide. Differences between men and women were not as marked as those between cultural groups but, again, men were more tolerant of both alcohol and suicide.

This study hints at an explanation for the cultural and gender differences in suicide rates. Maybe those who find alcohol and suicide more acceptable morally would be more prepared to use either - or even both - as a way of coping with depression? So their depression could be 'masked' and not show itself in official data. The findings suggest it's important to look at people's beliefs when it comes to understanding depression.