PODCAST: Depression in focus – Causes, consequences and care
We take a closer look at this invisible but serious illness which affects 5% of adults in Catalonia

Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. However the stigma surrounding depression often leads patients to suffer in silence, without adequate support from family, friends and healthcare professionals. On this week’s podcast we discuss what depression is, what the major causes are and how it can be treated.
Press play below to listen or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Spotify.
Lea Beliaeva Bander meets some patients who are suffering with depression to get an insider’s perspective on what it is like to live with the disease.
We talk to psychologist Dr. Gemma Parramon Puig, president of the Catalan Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Catalan Medical Sciences Academy and psychiatrist at Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. She analyzes the biological, social and cultural factors which can influence depression and reveals why women are more likely to get diagnosed with depression than men.
Plus founder and director of Therapy in Barcelona Leigh Matthews explains how mental health issues affect the international community and we discuss where to find professional support in Catalonia.
This week our Catalan phrase is "veure la llum al final del túnel," to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For any of our listeners who are struggling with depression, or supporting someone who is, we encourage you to seek help.
Get in touch with the podcast team: fillingthesink@acn.cat
Listen to more episodes of Filling the Sink below or find out more here.