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)]

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

Stories

  • Upcoming Webinar: Managing Lower Limb Lymphedema on 18th Dec 2021
    Mark your calendars. Share with cancer survivors of cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and men after prostate cancer and penile cancer. They should all know about lower limb lymphedema, a significant survivorship issue   While there is some awareness on lymphedema after breast cancer, we found that the awareness on lower limb lymphedema was extremely low. Lower Limb Lymphedema affects women with gynaecological cancers like cervical cancer, vulvar…
  • Image Description: An elderly person with a walker and supported by a caregiver
    बुजुर्गों में अकसर दिखने वाले ऐसे 12 लक्षण जो गंभीरता से लेने चाहियें
    वजन का बेवजह घटना, याददाश्त की समस्याएँ, कमजोरी और गहरी थकान जैसे लक्षणों को "सामान्य उम्र बढ़ने" की प्रक्रिया न समझें - ये किसी गंभीर समस्या का संकेत हो सकते हैं । इस लेख में डॉ शीतल रावल ऐसे 12  लक्षणों के बारे में बता रही हैं जो बुजुर्गों में अकसर पाए जाते हैं पर जिन्हें अनदेखा करने के बजाय आपको डॉक्टर की राय लेनी चाहिए।  वही लक्षण जो एक युवा व्यक्ति में एक कारण से हो सकते हैं वे बुजुर्गों में दूसरे कारणों से हो सकते हैं।  युवा व्यक्ति में शायद वे इतने गंभीर न हों, पर बुज़ुर्ग…
  • Picture of indian sweets and snacks with a text overlay of Managing Diabetes During Festivals
    त्योहार में ब्लड शुगर लेवल के प्रबंधन के लिए सुझाव
    काजल हांसदा, वरिष्ठ आहार विशेषज्ञ और मधुमेह शिक्षक, डीएवाई (डायबिटीज अवेयरनेस एंड यू - मधुमेह जागरूकता और आप) इस लेख में त्योहार के दिनों में रक्त शर्करा के स्तर के प्रबंधन के लिए सुझाव साझा कर रही  हैं। दीपावली और दुर्गा पूजा जैसे त्यौहारों में मिठाई और नमकीन का खुले दिल से सेवन करना आम है, हैं और यह मधुमेह वाले व्यक्तियों के लिए यह एक कठिन समय हो सकता है। ऐसे समय पर आहार का प्रबंधन कैसे किया जाना चाहिए? भारतीय त्योहारों को मिठाइयों और नमकीन भारी मात्रा में परोस कर मनाया जाता है, और ऐसे…
  • Sick Day Management For Diabetes
    If you have diabetes, your chances of getting an infection are higher than a person without diabetes. Having a cold, flu, COVID-19 or any other infection can then cause your blood glucose levels to increase. Thus, knowing how to handle such days and being prepared can prevent distress and complications that can occur due to hypergylcemia or high glucose levels in blood. What happens when you fall sick? When the body is unwell due to an infection or allergy, the immune system gets activated and…
  • Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes
    Persons with diabetes have a 2-to-3 fold higher rate of cardiovascular complications than those without diabetes. Read more about how diabetes increases the risk of complications and what can be done to manage this risk. Pro-tip: The best approach is to manage and control diabetes well.  The diabetic population is known to have a 2-to-3 fold higher rate of complications than the non-diabetic population. While it is true that diabetes increases the risk of getting numerous…
  • My Experience With CGM
    Jayesh Shah, who has been living with Type 2 diabetes is a very informed and aware diabetes patient. He has actively looked at ways to manage his diabetes better, be it in terms of trying diet changes or changing his exercise routine. When he read about Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), he was keen to try it out. He shares his experience with CGM in detail. Context: I am a person living with Type 2 diabetes for over 30 years now. I was first diagnosed around the age of 29 during a routine…
  • Managing Diabetes and Hypertension Effectively
    People with diabetes are at a higher risk of high blood pressure. High Blood pressure also increases the risk of diabetes. This co-existence leads to cardiovascular conditions, stroke, kidney disease, visual impairment and more. Read more to understand how you can manage both these conditions to improve your health outcomes. The International Diabetes Federation estimated that 72.9 million adults in India had diabetes in 2017, and this number would grow to 134 million by the year 2045. Studies…
  • How I Managed Diabetes Effectively For 30 Years (Video)
    Jayesh Shah, a diabetes awareness advocate has lived with Type 2 Diabetes for more than 30 years. He shares how his understanding of diabetes management had evolved over the years and his learnings as a self advocate. In this video interview, Jayesh talks of how he has continued to learn about his condition. He also elaborates on: The support from his wife. What motivates him to manage diabetes Coping with the challenges of COVID and the impact COVID on his routine The importance of closely…
  • Trust Your Child With Type 1 Diabetes
    Ankita Bardhan was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was only 13, which threw her parents in a state of shock and disbelief. Her parents talk of the journey since, the challenges and how Ankita has learnt to handle the condition well. Was it a shock for you when Ankita was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes? Or is there any history of diabetes in the family? How did you go for the diagnosis? It was an absolute shock for us, so much so that when the doctor told us for the first time that she…
  • How I Handle Diabetes During Festivals
    Festivals with their abundance of rich sweets and savouries can usually be a tough time for persons with diabetes. Persons with diabetes and their spouses share their experience of keeping blood glucose levels under control during festive periods. PatientsEngage team asked a few of our community members the following questions about how they handle the festival period. How do you manage your diet during this phase? How do you control your cravings for sweets and unhealthy indulgences?…