There has been much loose talk of "depression" and maybe it is a good idea to shed some light on this much mis-used word. It is time that some realism is injected into the hunting dispute with regard to claims of "depression".
To put it simply, one might say that there are two sorts of depression. One is the real or true (endogenous) depression; this is a major psychiatric disorder that can afflict anybody. This depression is without cause and usually linked to a chemical (neurotransmitter) imbalance in the brain. Most antidepressant drugs specifically target this imbalance and their demonstrable beneficial effect on depression and prescription of ante-depressant drugs is pharmacologically plausible.
Other forms of what is loosely called "depression" exist. These include reactive sadness (or "depression", if you like). This would be, for instance, the predictable sadness and unhappiness that follows bereavement, separation from a loved one or, even, simply failing an examination. This kind of "depression" has an evident cause and is a natural reaction to circumstances. It does not respond to antidepressant medication because there is no abnormality in brain function that can be corrected by such antidepressant medication.
This is a simplification but is relevant to and valid in the context of the exaggerated claims being circulated that hunters are suffering from "depression" through being deprived of their pastime. What these hunters might be justifiably suffering from is a transient degree of unhappiness, disappointment, feelings of deprivation, boredom and, quite probably, withdrawal symptoms, etc, but certainly not true "depression" in the psychiatric sense.
The message, therefore, is this: If anti-depressant medication has indeed been prescribed to hunters this is bad medical practice for the simple reason that antidepressant medication is not indicated and, if prescribed, will make no difference. To prescribe antidepressant drugs in such circumstances is misuse of powerful medication.
As to claims of suicide, deprivation of a pastime, pursuit or hobby is not the stuff of suicide. If this were so, suicides would be a very common occurrence. Suicide is uncommon exactly because we humans can withstand far greater loss and tragedy without even remotely contemplating suicide. Apart from exceptional instances of suicide (such as suicide bombers or ritual suicides of disgraced people, as common in Japan), there is almost invariably a background of true (endogenous) depression or serious psychiatric illness behind death from suicide.
It is time all this flippant talk about depression among hunters ceases. Hunters may have good reason to be sad and frustrated at being deprived of their pastime but this is for from the sort of "depression" for which antidepressant medication may be prescribed.
(The author is a medical doctor.)