Skip to main content
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 4 April 2017

The theme of the World Health Day 2017 is ‘Depression: Let’s Talk’. Encourage people with depression to talk about their feelings. Depression can easily be treated with psychological therapies and medicines. Learn about these and some other basic information on depression issued in public interest by SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation).

The wounds of depression are unseen, but they hurt more than the ones that bleed. Seek professional help and get better.

Facts about Depression

  1. Depression is the commonest disorder of the mind and affects people of all age groups.
  2. It is caused by imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
  3. Stress plays a major role in this disorder.
  4. Feelings of sadness for over 2 weeks without a clear reason, with changes in sleep, appetite, energy and interests, and difficulty in performance at work/school are signs of depression.
  5. It is very different from usual mood swings that occur in everyday life.
  6. Unexplained physical symptoms like persisting aches and pains in one or more parts of the body (eg: headache, backache), palpitations, chest pain and gastric symptoms can be signs of depression.
  7. Women of all age groups are more prone for depression and exhibit more physical symptoms.
  8. Depression is very common in people with chronic physical problems like cancer, diabetes, cardiac ailments, thyroid problems, etc.
  9. Persons with depression can feel hopeless and worthless and may wish to end their lives.
  10. A large number of suicides are the result of underlying depression
  11. Alcohol abuse/dependence can cause depression and also be an effect of depression.
  12. It can be easily treated with medicines, psychological therapies, cognitive behavior therapy and life style modifications
  13. Talking to someone who cares will help. Do not hesitate to seek professional help if needed.
  14. If it is not treated, depression affects quality of life adversely.
  15. Healthy food habits, adequate sleep, regular physical exercise, hobbies, good socialization, and avoiding smoking and drinking can reduce the risk of depression significantly and also help recover from it.

Issued in public interest by SCARF [SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION(I)]

Changed
04/Apr/2017

Stories

  • Stock pic of a young woman fainting and the text overlay When to take fainting seriously
    आपको बेहोशी को कब गंभीरता से लेना चाहिए?
    बेहोशी एक ऐसी घटना है जिससे हम सभी परिचित हैं। यह लक्षण आमतौर पर किसी मेडिकल समस्या के कारण होता है। इस लेख में पेशेंटसएन्गेज की टीम आपको बेहोशी के कई कारणों को समझने में मदद करती है और यह भी बताती है कि डॉक्टर से कब मिलना चाहिए। बेहोशी एक स्विच के बंद होने जैसा है। इसे हम मूर्छा और चेतना खोने के नाम से भी जानते हैं। बेहोशी तब होती है जब दिमाग को कुछ समय के लिए ज़रूरत से कम खून मिलता है, और इस के कारण कुछ समय के लिए व्यक्ति अपने आस-पास की चीज़ों के प्रति अनजान हो जाते हैं। Read in English: When…
  • Stock pic of an elderly woman with a peach ribbon and the text Living in the present after Endometrial Cancer
    Living In The Present After Endometrial Cancer
    Uma*, 73 from Delhi, is an Endometrial Cancer survivor for almost 7 years. She believes in the need to follow treatment protocols but also to stay informed through credible sources. She wishes she was given proper advice to prevent long term complications. Read on to find out more. Please tell us a bit about your condition. Can you describe it? In September 2019, I was diagnosed with Stage 2B, Endometrial cancer that affected both my ovaries and uterus peritoneum. What were the early symptoms?…
  • Stock pic of a person with a fever patch on forehead and the text overlay in Hindi When to see a doctor for fever
    बुखार होने पर डॉक्टर से कब मिलें
    बुखार (ज्वर, फीवर) एक आम लक्षण है। यह आमतौर पर इस बात का संकेत होता है कि शरीर किसी संक्रमण से लड़ रहा है। हमारे लिए यह समझना जरूरी है कि इसे गंभीरता से कब लेना चाहिए। इस लेख में पेशेंटसएन्गैज की टीम आपको बुखार के प्रकार और कारणों को समझने में मदद करती है, और यह भी बताती है कि डॉक्टर से कब मिलना चाहिए। हम सभी ने अपनी ज़िंदगी में कभी न कभी बुखार का अनुभव किया है। बुखार वास्तव में एक उपयोगी लक्षण है, क्योंकि इस से हमें पता चलता है कि हमारा शरीर किसी अंदरूनी संक्रमण से लड़ रहा है। हमारे शरीर का…
  • Stock pic of diabetes monitoring tests and text overlay on blue strip Which Diabetes Tests are Really needed?
    डायबिटीज़ टेस्ट: कौन से टेस्ट जरूरी हैं, कौन से इतने जरूरी नहीं हैं
    हम हर दूसरे दिन सुनते रहते हैं कि डायबिटीज़ (मधुमेह) के लिए यह टेस्ट अच्छा है, वह टेस्ट अच्छा है। कुछ डायबिटीज़ के निदान के लिए, कुछ उसके नियंत्रण के लिए। संभव टेस्ट की यह भरमार कभी-कभी बहुत उलझन में डाल देती है – क्या करें, क्या न करें। इस लेख में डॉ. शीतल पटेल इन सब टेस्ट का परिचय देती हैं ताकि हम जान सकें कि ये कब उपयोगी हो सकते हैं। अगर आपको डायबिटीज़ (मधुमेह) है, तो आप बहुत सारे ब्लड टेस्ट, चेक-अप और स्क्रीनिंग करवा चुके होंगे। कौन सा टेस्ट क्या है, कब करवाना चाहिए, और स्थिति को नियंत्रित…
  • Thumbnail based on world cancer day theme United by Unique and the text How Cancer Shapes Lives and Perspectives
    Cancer Turned My Life Upside Down
    On World Cancer Day, our contributors shared how cancer has changed their perspective and outlook towards life, irrespective of whether it turned their lives upside down or not.  You can also read their detailed cancer journeys by clicking on their names.  Sai Narayana Karanam, Lung Cancer How has cancer turned your life upside down? Cancer didn’t just challenge my health—it changed the way I see every single day. One moment I was living normally, and the next I was facing scans,…
  • Picture of the author in the hills and the text overaly I trekked the himalayas one year after Ovarian Cancer Treatment
    Mental Healing Is An Important Element Of Cancer Healing
    Prajakta Paranjpe, 47, a Singapore resident, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, with almost no symptoms. A surgery and six rounds of chemo later, she has been clear for a year, and has even gone trekking to the Himalayas. Read how she navigated her recovery process. Today, I am totally fit and healthy. I am working full time and trekking on the weekends. In fact, I believe I am a lot healthier now than I was 5-7 years ago. At present, there is no evidence of cancer in my body. My last chemo was…
  • Stock pic of a person with a fever patch on forehead and the text overlay When to take fever seriously
    When To See a Doctor for Fever
    Fever is a common symptom. It is usually a symptom that the body is fighting an infection. However there are times, it should be taken seriously. Here the PatientsEngage team helps you understand the types and causes of fever and when to see a doctor. All of us have experienced a fever sometime in our lives. Fever is actually a good symptom as it indicates that our body is fighting an infection in our body. Our average normal body temperature is 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius. The baseline…
  • Stock pic of a young woman fainting and the text overlay When to take fainting seriously
    When Should You Take Fainting Seriously
    Unconsciousness or fainting is an occurrence that we are all familiar with. It is usually a symptom of an underlying medical issue. Here the PatientsEngage team helps you understand the many causes of fainting and when to see a doctor. Unconsciousness is like a switch turning off, and most people know this as something far more familiar called fainting. When someone faints, the brain temporarily receives less blood than it needs, leading to a brief loss of awareness to their surroundings.…
  • Pic of the podcast episode Unpacking Geriatric Cancer Care with the host Aparna Mittal and the guest Dr Vanita Noronha
    बुजुर्गों में कैंसर उपचार के लिए वृद्धावस्था संबंधी विशेष मूल्यांकन का महत्व
    प्रमुख मेडिकल ऑन्कोलॉजिस्ट और शोधकर्ता डॉ. वनिता नोरोन्हा ने पेशेंट्सएंगेज पॉडकास्ट पर बुजुर्गों में कैंसर देखभाल के लिए आवश्यक विशेष वृद्धावस्था संबंधी मूल्यांकन के बारे में चर्चा की, और बताया कि ऐसे मूल्यांकन से उपचार को व्यक्तिगत बनाने में कैसे मदद मिल सकती है। जानकारी के लिए पढ़ें पॉडकास्ट पर आधारित यह लेख: जेरीऐट्रिक ऑन्कोलॉजी या जेरीऐट्रिक कैंसर केयर (बुजुर्गों के कैंसर उपचार और देखभाल के क्षेत्र) क्या हैं? जेरीऐट्रिक ऑन्कोलॉजी या जेरीऐट्रिक कैंसर केयर (बुजुर्गों के कैंसर उपचार और देखभाल…
  • Stock pic of diabetes monitoring tests and text overlay on blue strip Which Diabetes Tests are Really needed?
    Diabetes tests: what you really need (and what you can skip)
    The constant barrage of tests for diabetes diagnosis and management can feel overwhelming. And new ones keep popping up. Dr. Shital Patel explains the role and utility of each of the tests  If you are living with diabetes, you have had a lot of blood tests, check-ups, and screenings. It can feel overwhelming trying to keep track of what all these tests mean and which ones are truly important for your health. You may often see new tests being added in testing packages or mentioned in…