Depresion

•What is Depression?

-Depression isn't just bad moods and occasional melancholy. It's not just feeling down or sad, either. Depression is not simply a temporary change in mood or a sign of weakness. It is a real medical condition with many emotional, physical, behavioral and cognitive symptoms. The most severe depression can lead to suicide.

•Statistics

-About 20% of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood

-Every year, 17 million people around the world is affected by depression.

-Seasonal depression affects between 3% and 5% of Canadian adults

-Over 80% of the people that have symptoms of clinical depression are not receiving any specific treatment for their depression.

-The number of patients diagnosed with depression increases 20% per year.

-At its worst depression can lead to suicide a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850 000 lives each year. (World Health Organization)

-Between 10% to 15% of teenagers have some symptoms of teen depression at any one time.

-About 5% of teens are suffering from Major Depression at any one time.

-About 2% of teens develop bipolar disorder in their late teenage years, and about 15% of teens with depression can eventually develop bipolar disorder.

-A small percent of teens also suffer from seasonal depression.

-The third leading cause of death among teenagers is untreated depression.

-Less than 33% of teens with depression get help

-80% of teens with depression can be successfully treated

•Symptoms

-Depressing mood most of the day, every day.

-Feeling you are not doing anything right.

-Barely any interest in daily activities.

-Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns.

-Fatigue, restlessness, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, irritability, emptiness, worries, and sometimes even increased alcohol or drug use.

-Thoughts of death or suicide

•Types of depression

-Psychotic Depression

-Clinical Depression

-Treatment-Resistant Depression

-Bipolar Disorder or Manic Depression

-Seasonal Affective Depression

-Post.Partum Depression

-Bereavement Depression

-Major Depression Disorder

•How to deal with depressed people

-Be there and be a positive example

-Small gestures always help, motivate them to take part in recreational activities.

-Be patient and listen without judging. Be gentle but persistent.

-Don’t minimize their pain, validate their feelings.

-Encourage them to get help from a doctor.

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