Depression Education and Awareness Month
- Vanessa Mukoo
- Oct 2, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 27, 2022
image source: Unsplash
Table of Contents
Defining depression |
What do the statistics say? |
Causes of depression |
Types of depression |
Signs and symptoms of depression |
How to help someone having depression |
India Suicide HOTLINES |
What depression is
Per healthline, depression is classified as a mood disorder that may be defined as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that intervene in a person’s everyday activities. October is known as the Depression Education and Awareness month. There is a significant amount of stigma surrounding mental health issues and it is important to curb this stigma by educating ourselves.
What do the statistics say?
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 280 million people in the world have depression, among which 5.0% are adults and 5.7% are adults above the age of 60. Over 700,000 people die by suicide due to depression each year. It is one of the leading causes of death in 15-29-year-olds.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified cases of depression. According to THE TIMES OF INDIA, the lockdown has given rise to stress levels leading to 43% of Indians having depression. A new study conducted by GOQii surveyed 10,000 Indians to understand their mental health and coping mechanisms during quarantine. The results: 26% of the respondents were mildly depressed, 11% were feeling moderately depressed, and 6% were experiencing severe symptoms.
Causes of Depression
Brain chemistry: abnormalities in brain chemical levels can cause depression.
Genetics and family history: a family member or relative having depression can result in you becoming depressed.
Medical conditions: long-term illnesses can cause depression.
Lack of support: isolation and little to no support system can cause depression.
Types of Depression
Since depression is a mood disorder, different people are diagnosed with distinct types of depression. The most common types are:
Major depressive disorder (MDD): Major depression (clinical depression) has intense or overwhelming symptoms that last longer than two weeks. These symptoms interfere with everyday life.
Bipolar depression: People with bipolar depression have alternating periods of low mood and extremely high-energy (manic) periods. During the low period, they may have depression symptoms, such as feeling sad or hopeless or lacking energy.
Perinatal and postpartum depression: “Perinatal” means around birth. Many people refer to this type as postpartum depression. Perinatal depression can occur during pregnancy and up to one year after having a baby.
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): Also known as dysthymia, it is defined as a low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression. It is characterised by a lost interest in normal activities, hopelessness, low self-esteem, low appetite, low energy, sleep changes and poor concentration.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual disorder (PMS). It affects women in the days or weeks leading up to their menstrual period.
Psychotic depression: People with psychotic depression have severe depressive symptoms and delusions or hallucinations. Delusions are beliefs in things that are not based in reality, while hallucinations involve seeing, hearing, or feeling touched by things that aren’t actually there.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder, usually starts in late fall and early winter. It often goes away during the spring and summer. On the contrary, some people also experience reverse-SAD i.e seasonal depression that occurs during the spring and summer.
Signs and Symptoms of depression
Symptoms of depression can vary. A few of the most common ones include feeling constant hopelessness in life, losing interest in activities one would usually enjoy, developing anxiety, fatigue and sleep problems, loss of control on emotions, and suicidal ideation.
How to help someone having depression
It is not always easy to spot signs of depression in a loved one but there are several ways to support them, if you do:
Offer them a hug and listen to them: listen to your loved one and ask them questions about how they feel, how you could help, how they are coping with things. Patiently listening and showing empathy validates their concerns and emotions and makes them feel safer. Don't feel afraid to offer them a hug!
Educate yourself and try to understand depression: it might not always be possible to understand and empathise with what your loved one is going through, but it is extremely easy to do a quick google search and read about it. Being confused is totally okay, but reacting in a particular way that makes your loved one feel worse about their feelings is not okay.
Make them seek help: encourage them to speak with a mental health professional and if they do, then support them to continue therapy.
If you’re the one having depression, know that you’re not alone and it gets better. Surround yourself with people that make you feel good about yourself and practice self-care.
INDIA SUICIDE HOTLINES:
+91 413 339999
+91 40 7904646
+91 79 2630 5544
+91 79 2630 0222
Sources:
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