15 Important Facts you should know about Depression

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
Community
Mental Health and Wellbeing
SCARF Schizophrenia Exchange
PatientsEngage General Community
Condition
Cancer
Depression
Diabetes
Stress

Stories

  • Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction: Health For All
    We all have a lot of questions on cancer prevention, how to detect cancer early and guidelines for  screening. We also often ignore the needs of persons with disabilities in terms of cancer awareness campaigns and access to screening. Join us as we discuss the following topics in the webinar today   Prevention is better than cure. How can we prevent cancer? How can we reduce the risk of cancer? What are the common cancers? What are the screening guidelines for lung cancer,…
  • "Eat With a Small Spoon if You Have Diabetes"
    Advises Dr Kalyani Nityanandan, veteran cardiologist, who comes across many patients with heart disease and diabetes. In her own style with a tinge of humour, she shares valuable strategies for meals and medicines to help patients manage blood sugar well. He is a very sweet man, and his wife is even sweeter. Unfortunately this "sweetness" does not refer to their disposition but to the unusually high sugar level in their blood. Yes, they both have diabetes. Diabetes is a very old disease. Five…
  • The author, a woman in a red and yellow sari and a yellow blouse, holding birds
    I Lost My Voice Due to Passive Smoking
    Nalini Satyanarayana, 72-year-old nonsmoker, was diagnosed with throat (voice box) cancer 10 years back because of exposure to second-hand smoke in her house. Today, as survivor, she has become an energetic tobacco control warrior and counsels patients after laryngeal surgery and teaches them to talk. When and how did you reckon a problem with your throat? It was January 2010. I felt my throat was hoarse. I could not speak clearly and was getting breathless. When medicines did not get me any…
  • "I Have Now Completed 8 Months With No Diabetes Medicines"
    Read how Aubrey Millet, got off his medication, under the guidance of his doctor and became ‘free of diabetes’ this year after having worked assiduously on his diet and exercise for two decades. It was in 2000 at age 52 that I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. My fasting blood sugar level was 175 mg/dL. I was a chain smoker that time, smoking more than 30 cigarettes a day. I was also notorious for my sweet tooth. I could eat large number of sweets in one sitting. I was particularly fond of…
  • Online Pain Management during Covid-19
    While teleconsultation has immense benefits, it can be limiting for patients with chronic pain where a physical examination may be necessary to reach correct diagnosis, avers Dr Mary Abraham, Pain & Palliative Care Specialist. The year 2020 has been the year of the SARS Covid-19 pandemic. It has been and still is an unprecedented situation that has transformed the lives of people all over the world. Besides the physical suffering it has inflicted, it has also affected the emotional, social…
  • iCall Poster on suicide helpline
    आत्महत्या संबंधी कुछ आम धारणाएं और सच्चाइयां
    विश्व आत्महत्या रोकथाम दिवस (वर्ल्ड सुसाइड प्रिवेंशन डे) के अवसर पर, पारस शर्मा, प्रोग्राम कोऑर्डिनेटर, आइकॉल साइकोसोशल हेल्पलाइन, टाटा इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ सोशल साइंसेज (TISS) आत्महत्या के बारे में कुछ आम गलतफहमियों को दूर करते हैं। 1.  जो लोग आत्महत्या के बारे में बात करते हैं, वे आमतौर पर आत्महत्या नहीं करते हैं, वे केवल ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहते हैं। आत्महत्या मदद की एक ऐसी पुकार है जिसपर किसी ने ध्यान नहीं दिया है। यह सोचना गलत है कि जो लोग सचमुच अपने जीवन को समाप्त करना चाहते हैं वे स्पष्ट…
  • A woman in a red dress on the phone and holding her head in distress
    "जब कोई मेरी बात बिना आलोचना किये सुनता है, तो बहुत अच्छा लगता है"
    दो ऐसे बयान पढ़ें जो ऐसे लोगों ने साझा करे हैं जिन्होंने आत्महत्या का प्रयास करा था पर असफल रहे। हम उनकी आप-बीती आपका ध्यान इस बात पर आकर्षित करने के लिए पेश कर रहे हैं ताकि आप यह देखें कि यदि परिवार वाले और मित्र थोड़ी सी संवेदना और सहानुभूति दिखाएं तो कई आत्महत्या के प्रयास रोके जा सकते हैं। दोनों स्थितियों में आत्महत्या का प्रयास करने वालों के अनुभव से दिखता है कि वे चाहते थे कि कोई उनकी बात बिना आलोचना के, बिना मूल्यांकन किए सुनता। ट्रिगर वार्निंग (चेतावनी: कुछ लोग इस लेख की सामग्री से परेशान…
  • Upcoming Webinar: Pandemic Stress and Burnout - Relearning Ways To Cope
    Join us as we speak with Hvovi Bhagwagar, Clinical Psychologist and Trauma Therapist on how covid-19 pandemic is causing a lot of stress and tension in people. Previously defined coping and self care mechanisms are not available or not working. So what we can do to find strategies to cope Topic Pandemic Stress and Burnout: Relearning How To Cope When: 5th September, 2020  3:30pm IST, 6pm SGT    To join the webinar, click on the link below https://us02web.zoom.us/j/…
  • A man in a suit and with his work bag, sitting on steps, looking downwards and worried
    चिन्ता और डिप्रेशन कम करने के १२ नुस्खे
    कैम गिलर, संज्ञानात्मक व्यवहार मनोचिकित्सक, चिन्ता और अवसाद का सामना करने के आसान नुस्खे बताती हैं । साथ ही, अपने दिमाग की नकारात्मक आवाज़ को कैसे रोका जा सकता है क्या आप उदास, चिंतित, नकारात्मक महसूस कर रहें हैं ? निम्नलिखित कूट नीतियां  आपको इन भावनाओं का बेहतर सामना करने और खुश रहने में मदद करेंगी। 1.   अपने लिए कुछ समय निकालें धीमी गति से सांस लें, आराम करें, संगीत सुनें, ध्यान करें, मालिश कराऐं, या विश्राम  तकनीकें सीखें। समस्या से पीछे हटने से दिमाग को शांति मिलती है।…
  • Glucometer and a tray of fruits
    Diabetes and Fruit and Nuts - Everything You Wanted To Know
    Can a person with diabetes eat fruit? Which fruits and how much? Can they eat nuts? Dietitian and Diabetes educator Ujjwala Baxi has all the answers. Fruits are healthy, but even healthy individuals cannot binge on fruits. Excessive fruit intake has shown to have negative implications on triglycerides (a type of lipid detected in the blood lipids profile test). A healthy, active individual can have 4-5 servings of fruit a day, which is 500g of fruit. अब हिन्दी में पढ़ें…