Blog
“You’re On My Mind”
Depression is an epidemic. Depression is a psychological enemy. Depression is a disorder. Depression is silent. Depression is a spiritual killer. Suicide is the third leading cause of death. Men and women die from suicide, of course, and are doing so at an increasing rate.
Left untreated, mental disorders can also make you more vulnerable to substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration and homicide.
Many men and women have a mental illness, but are less likely to seek help. To help with mental health issues a variety of activities are used to raise awareness of the mental health challenges associated with depression and stress that affect people and their families.
Symptoms of Clinical Depression
Due to the gender differences depression may be exhibited differently among men and women. Women are likely to attempt suicide with overdosing of pills. Men are likely to complete suicide with self-inflicting gunshots, lethal drugs overdose, self-hanging, and “suicide-by-police” shootings. People sometimes complete suicide in ways intended to look like accidents. To help decide if you—or someone you care about—needs an evaluation for clinical depression, review the following list of symptoms. If you experience five or more of these symptoms for longer than two weeks, if you feel suicidal or if the symptoms interfere with your daily routine, see your doctor immediately and bring this sheet with you.
- A persistent sadness, anxious or “empty” mood, or excessive crying
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches,
- digestive disorders and chronic pain
- Irritability, anger, “snappy”, uptight
- Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down”
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness or pessimism
- Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning waking
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Increased alcohol drinking, substance use (street “drugs”) and prescription medication abuse
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or thinking the world would be better without you
A quick, easy and confidential way to determine if you may be experiencing depression is to take a mental health screening. A screening is not a diagnosis, but a way of understanding if your symptoms are having enough of an impact that you should seek help from a doctor or other professional. The most common ways to treat clinical depression are with psychotherapy or an antidepressant medication or combination of the two. The choice of treatment depends on how severe the depressive symptoms are and the history of the illness.
Making the Most of Your Treatment
In addition to treatment, participation in support groups can be very helpful. Seek out culturally competent therapists with experience. Find yourself a licensed mental health providers. Also, be sure to take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, exercise in moderation, stay away from alcohol and drugs, and eat regular well-balanced meals. Some find strength from faith or spiritual communities.
How Do I Get Help for Clinical Depression?
The first step is to talk to your doctor, who may recommend a physical checkup to find out if there are any underlying physical causes for the depressive symptoms. If clinical depression is diagnosed, then your physician or health care provider will refer you to a licensed mental health provider. Mental health professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed mental health counselors and clinical social workers.
Hotline Numbers
National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) — 1-800-622-2255
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — 1-800-662-4357
Mental Health Crisis Lines / Suicide Hotlines
Suicide Prevention Lifeline. — 1-800-273-TALK
Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
— 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)