Facts About Mental Illness - Depression

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks in general. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression.

What is depression and who gets it?
Depression is a medical condition that affects how a person acts, feels and thinks. It may affect their self-esteem, sleeping patterns, eating habits, mood interest in life, productivity at work or school, or relationships with family and friends. It is not merely "Having the Blues". Depression is a real illness that may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Genetics may also play a role to some degree. It is not caused by a flaw in character, laziness, weakness or brought on by oneself.

How many people have it?
It is estimated that 1 out of every 4 women and 1 out of every 8 men in Canada suffer from depression. 5% of the Canadian workforce suffers from depression at the cost of more than $3.5 billion dollars a year, when job loss, lower productivity, absenteeism and health care costs are calculated. Depression can affect anyone at any time of their life and knows no social, economic, or cultural boundaries. Nearly two-thirds of all suicides are committed by people with depression. With all these negative facts is there any hope? Yes, and lots of it!!

Can it be treated?
The good news is that depression is highly treatable. For some people they may have one episode of depression in their life and that is all. For the majority of people, they will suffer from a depressive episode from time to time. Treatment for depression may include a combination of medication, such as antidepressants, and talk therapy. If you think you or someone you love may suffer from depression talk to your family doctor. He/she is the best resource for getting effective treatment. The largest barriers to effective treatment is not seeking help and not recognizing the symptoms of depression.

How do I know if I have depression?
Symptoms of depression may include some or all of the following (excerpted from "Depression and Manic Depression" by Canadian Mental Health Association National Office):

Answering "yes" to many of these symptoms may indicate depression. Symptoms must be present for most of the day lasting for a minimum of two weeks or longer. Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms as depression may vary from person to person. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of depression. If you or someone you know believes they might have depression, seek the help of a doctor as soon as possible.

Remember: Depression is no one's fault.

It is a real illness with effective treatment available.