A public health researcher is analyzing global data on mental health. They note that the percentage of the population that has experienced a major depressive episode at some point in their lives is approximately 17% in the United States, 15% in France, and 12% in Brazil. In contrast, the rates are around 6% in Japan, 7% in China, and 5% in South Korea. Based solely on this pattern of data, which of the following conclusions is best supported?

A public health researcher notes that official statistics show a significantly lower lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in Japan compared to Canada. The researcher considers several potential explanations for this statistical gap. Which of the following potential explanations focuses on a possible issue with how the data is collected, rather than a true difference in the actual occurrence of the disorder between the two populations?