April 7th is World Health Day, and this year, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) year-long campaign is titled “Depression: let’s talk”. Why is depression their focus? Because, according to their research, depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
From the WHO’s latest estimates, there are now 300 million people worldwide living with depression, which represents an 18% increase from 2005 to 2015.
Depression: More Than Feeling Sad
Depression is defined by the Mayo Clinic as: “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.”
It is possible to have only one episode of depression in your life, but more often, depression occurs in multiple episodes.
Some symptoms of depression include:
- Different sleeping patterns. When depressed, people may experience changes in their sleeping patterns, such as being unable to fall asleep or stay asleep or sleeping for much longer than normal.
- Changes in appetite. For some people, this means weight loss due to lack of interest in food and for others it could mean weight gain if they are using food to cope.
- Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. During periods of depression, people might feel worthless, hopeless, and guilty. They can experience intense low self esteem and have excessively bad thoughts about themselves and the world.
- Loss of energy and interest. For someone experiencing depression, even the smallest tasks can take much more effort. They may feel extremely tired and be unable to perform their daily routines. People experiencing depression can also lose interest in their normal activities and be unable to experience pleasure when performing their favorite activities.
- Inability to concentrate. Periods of depression can be accompanied by the inability to think clearly, make good decisions, remember actions, and concentrate.
- Physical pains. Some people may have unexplained aches and pains, such as headaches and back aches.
Stopping the Stigma
Depression is a mental illness, and research suggests that the majority of people hold negative attitudes and stereotypes towards people with mental illness (Psychology Today). One negative stereotype is that people with mental illness are dangerous.
The truth is, anyone can have depression. It affects affects people of all ages and all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups (NAMI).
That is one of the reasons the WHO says that the first step to addressing depression worldwide is to talk about the issues of prejudice and discrimination that surround depression.
“The continuing stigma associated with mental illness was the reason why we decided to name our campaign Depression: let’s talk,” said Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. “For someone living with depression, talking to a person they trust is often the first step towards treatment and recovery.”
When to Seek Help
If you feel depressed, make an appointment to see your medical provider as soon as you can. At the Family Health Clinic, we have Behavioral Health Specialists who are here to help you through your depression and can find the best treatment option for you. Call (800) 321-5043 to make an appointment.
If seeking treatment is intimidating, try to open up to a close friend or loved one, a faith leader, or someone else you trust.
When to Seek Emergency Help
If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Also consider these options:
Remember – you are not alone!
We hope that from this article, you realize a few things. First, if you are facing a period of depression, you are not alone. Second, the stigma surrounding depression needs to end. Anyone can experience depression, and it is not a sign of weakness or ‘craziness’. You can help stop the stigma by changing your thinking about mental illnesses and doing your part to better understand people facing depression.
Lastly, please remember that we would be more than happy to talk with you if you think you are experiencing depression or another mental illness.
Resources:
WHO World Health Day article: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/world-health-day/en/
Mayo Clinic Article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/symptoms/con-20032977
Depression Symptoms from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression#sthash.ABWurnU4.dpuf
The Stigma Around Mental Illness, Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brick-brick/201405/the-stigma-mental-illness-is-making-us-sicker
