#LLTJJR NEWSLETTER

Have you been feeling down or sad lately? It’s normal to have these feelings to come and go, but when this affects how you function in your everyday life, you may have a depression disorder. October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. More than 264 million people suffer from depression and considered the leading cause of worldwide disabilities (WHO, 2020). Depression can target all ages and affects more women than men (WHO, 2020).  A combination of genetic, biochemical, psychological and environmental factors contributes to depression which can lead to suicide (WHO, 2020).  Anxiety disorders and alcohol/substance abuse is commonly linked to depression (American Behavioral Clinics).

Know the Symptoms

Everyone is unique and different, so our depression symptoms will vary as well. Those who lost a loved one or suffered a recent emotional crisis may have more frequent symptoms. Review the following questions and evaluate how you feel:

How often have you been bothered by the following over the past two weeks? (Responses to the nine items below are answered on 0-3 scale; 0 = Not at All, 1 = Several Days, 2 = More Than Half the Days, 3 = Nearly Every Day.)

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things?
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much?
4. Feeling tired or having little energy?
5. Poor appetite or overeating? 
6. Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down? 
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television?
8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual?
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting yourself?

(Bergland, 2020)

How can you help?

If you know someone who suffers from depression, you can be affected too. Encourage them to get professional help in order to receive appropriate treatment. Be encouraging, supportive, and understanding. Actively listen and most importantly, NEVER ignore threats of suicide. 

Amourie Johnson, RN, MSN

If you or someone you know has talked about contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Disclaimer: Although I am a health professional, I am not a mental health specialist, and this article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice from a mental health provider. The information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and will give credit to the source as a guide and reference to my thoughts and views.

REFERENCES

American Behavioral Clinics. October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month & ADHD Awareness Month, & So Much More. Retrieved from https://americanbehavioralclinics.com/national-depression-and-mental-health-screening-month/

Bergland, C. (2020). Nine questions to ask when screening for depression. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202004/9-questions-ask-when-screening-depression

World Health Organization (2020). Depression. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression