Home > Fact > Ouch Q&A #23: Depression
Ouch Q&A #23: Depression
17th September 2007
Q: I hear there's a new survey which has found that depression can be more debillitating than a physical disability. What's it all about?
A: The has been carried out by the World Health Organisation, or WHO, amongst more than 245,000 participants from 60 countries in all regions of the world. It's revealed that depression is a greater detriment to health than chronic diseases such as angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes. The data also shows that people with chronic diseases are more likely to suffer from depression than those without; with the combination of depression and diabetes having an extra negative impact on health.
Q: What exactly is depression though? After all, we all feel fed up, miserable or sad at times, don't we?
A: Symptoms of depression include feeling unhappy, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration. Someone is said to be significantly depressed when their feelings of depression do not go away quickly - after one or two weeks, for instance - and are so bad that they interfere with their someone's everyday life.
Q: What causes depression?
A: Depression has no single cause and can result from a combination of things such as events that happen in our lives, circumstances or family history. Genetics can also play a part in depression, as can stress, a pessimistic personality and physical illness. For some people there is no definable cause.
Q: Is it common?
A: Depression is thought to affect about 121 million people worldwide and is considered to be one of the leading causes of disability.
A: Symptoms of depression include feeling unhappy, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration. Someone is said to be significantly depressed when their feelings of depression do not go away quickly - after one or two weeks, for instance - and are so bad that they interfere with their someone's everyday life.
Q: What causes depression?
A: Depression has no single cause and can result from a combination of things such as events that happen in our lives, circumstances or family history. Genetics can also play a part in depression, as can stress, a pessimistic personality and physical illness. For some people there is no definable cause.
Q: Is it common?
A: Depression is thought to affect about 121 million people worldwide and is considered to be one of the leading causes of disability.
Q: Does it affect men and women equally?
A: No. Between seven and twelve per cent of men are said to have diagnosable depression, as opposed to twenty to twenty-five per cent of women. One theory as to why the figure is higher for the female population is because of the incidence of postnatal depression.
Q: What treatments are available for depression?
A: There are a variety of treatment options, including psychotherapy and counselling, alternative therapies such as St John's Wort, and antidepressants. The good news is that 4 out of 5 people with depression will get completely better without any help given time.
Q: If that's the case, why bother treating it?
A: Well, that still leaves 1 in 5 people feeling depressed after two years or more, and it's not possible to accurately predict who will get better and who will not. There's also the problem that for some people the depression gets so bad that they attempt suicide.
Q: That's very worrying. Is suicide a very common consequence of depression?
A: Suicide results in the loss of about 850,000 lives every year, with men being about three times more likely to kill themselves than women. It's most common amongst men who are separated, widowed or divorced and is more likely if someone is a heavy drinker. Over the last few years, men between the ages of 16-24 and 39-54 years have become more likely to attempt suicide, though the Royal College of Psychiatrists say they don't yet know the precise reason for this.
Q: So what should be done to reduce the figures for people affected by depression?
A: The survey by the World Health Organisation highlights the need to address depression as a , and experts are calling for an increase in funding for mental health services. Marcus Roberts, Head of Policy at mental health charity , says, "The treatment of depression must be given equal footing to the treatment of other conditions. While treatments for most physical health problems are readily accessible, mental health treatments such as talking therapies are limited, with some patients waiting months or even years for their first appointment with a therapist."
A: No. Between seven and twelve per cent of men are said to have diagnosable depression, as opposed to twenty to twenty-five per cent of women. One theory as to why the figure is higher for the female population is because of the incidence of postnatal depression.
Q: What treatments are available for depression?
A: There are a variety of treatment options, including psychotherapy and counselling, alternative therapies such as St John's Wort, and antidepressants. The good news is that 4 out of 5 people with depression will get completely better without any help given time.
Q: If that's the case, why bother treating it?
A: Well, that still leaves 1 in 5 people feeling depressed after two years or more, and it's not possible to accurately predict who will get better and who will not. There's also the problem that for some people the depression gets so bad that they attempt suicide.
Q: That's very worrying. Is suicide a very common consequence of depression?
A: Suicide results in the loss of about 850,000 lives every year, with men being about three times more likely to kill themselves than women. It's most common amongst men who are separated, widowed or divorced and is more likely if someone is a heavy drinker. Over the last few years, men between the ages of 16-24 and 39-54 years have become more likely to attempt suicide, though the Royal College of Psychiatrists say they don't yet know the precise reason for this.
Q: So what should be done to reduce the figures for people affected by depression?
A: The survey by the World Health Organisation highlights the need to address depression as a , and experts are calling for an increase in funding for mental health services. Marcus Roberts, Head of Policy at mental health charity , says, "The treatment of depression must be given equal footing to the treatment of other conditions. While treatments for most physical health problems are readily accessible, mental health treatments such as talking therapies are limited, with some patients waiting months or even years for their first appointment with a therapist."
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Comments
Life is depress. So much go on in a person life, and sometimes don't know What to do. Talking Dont' Always Work. I Pray A lot, That Help Me some.Ask God For Peace Of Mind. And Belive. I Have a lot Of Issue In My Life, And Sometimes I Feel Like I Could Just Scream out Loud., Maybe That will Help.. Sometimes you Talk to People ,and They Throw Up Your Issue in Your Face, And That Really Hurts. So Someone May just Keep There issue To themselves. (bossiegirl7)
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Life itself is not depressing. It is how life is experienced and perceived by the person who is depressed. If the person is in constant pain and knows that the pain will be a permanent feature of their lives, then all hope is lost on a quality of life that contained within it a 'quality of movement' and all the freedom and independence that came with that. Loss of self worth and self esteem are part of depression. there is also loss of confidence. My husband suffers all of this and to a degree I go through it with him. Not an hour goes by where he is not in severe pain. There is no one task he can perform that is pain free. The loss of range of motion in the limbs and the loss of one's ability to have sexual intercourse, all weigh heavily. The lack of ability to even sit at a table with one's family and enjoy a social evening with a good meal and drink! All because my husband is unable to sit on a normal chair (or any chair) for that matter for a protracted period. The loss of one's ability to enjoy a day out somewhere without being in pain, and last but not at all least, the loss of a future one thought one had.
All of these losses and more besides will inevitably cause emtional distress, add to this loss of financial independance and a reliance on state benefits. the loss of a job, and the loss of one's own home. To end up renting when one has always been an 'owner' has a tremendous impact on one's self esteem and self worth and confidence. Stigma! Blame and guilt set in and depression follows. This is my husbands life.......moment by moment.
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Depression to me is real even if people think its not ,its because the pain that here today in my body i cannot control and its always there and sometimes its not mind over matter.
When you want to smile every day but you feel so sad you cant and your little girl ask mummy where your smile gone ,tears feel my eyes because sometimes i wonder why .
Depression is like a hammer just hitting you one minute your ok next your crying and think the world against you and no one understands.
You cannot just pull yourself together or just snap out of it, it effects you your family your everyday life ,your job if you can manage to work.
Depression if you have had it or got it you will understand everything i have just said , merry christmas to one and all.............
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I've not been happy for a while....coming up to 2 years. Tried to keep it back of my mind, some stuff came out that I did not realise how I felt about it till I had to talk about. So having counselling soon next week which will be my first one of many :(
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THERE IS ALWAYS A BRIGHTER DAY ON THE WAY! I have dealt with depression over my difficulties and trials over the years and were it not for the people around me that love me wouldve probably committed suicide. I did not want to suffer and at my lower peaks could not see my way through. Its been a long haul but worth it! circumstances have changed, people have inspired me and instead of looking inwards I focus very much on positive therapies and occupations to bring sense and meaning to my life. there are so many hurting people out there, understanding that comes from empathy is a skill and talent that can be used to help someone else instead of giving in and leaving an inheritance of pain and loss for others that care to suffer behind you. I still suffer but LIFE IS REWARDING.
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