Confront depression this World Health Day

The theme for this year's World Health Day, "Depression: Let's Talk", reflects that talking about depression is often the first - and perhaps most difficult - step to overcoming this frequently misunderstood illness. Depression is not only a psychological condition; it may also have a biological basis with an imbalance in the chemistry of the brain. The condition can severely impact a person's ability to relate to friends and family, performance at work and their capacity to care for their own health.

There are various ways that mental health conditions, including depression, may affect our physical wellbeing, either through unhealthy changes to the individual's behaviour or physiological changes that may affect the immune system. The relationship between depression and overall wellbeing should not be underestimated. 

What is depression?
Many of us feel a little "down" or feel that we have "the blues" from time to time, but this is not necessarily an indication of major depressive disorder, commonly known as depression. It is often mistakenly believed that a person is depressed ‘about' something in particular, however, depression does not necessarily develop in reaction to events in a person's life.

Symptoms of depression vary, but often include feelings of helplessness, despair and lethargy. People with depression often find no pleasure in activities that they once found enjoyable, and may feel as if they have no energy for everyday tasks. Some people may find it difficult to get out of bed and changes in appetite are common, often accompanied by unintentional weight loss or weight gain.

Some people resort to comfort eating, drinking alcohol, taking illegal drugs or smoking cigarettes when they feel depressed. It is important to remember that these addictions do not help the underlying problem and can be damaging to other aspects of the person's health.

A small percentage of people suffering from depression, particularly when it is severe and goes untreated, may take their own lives. The risk is greater for depressed individuals who have previously attempted suicide or intentionally harmed themselves, or if someone in their family has died as a result of suicide.

Seeking help for depression
If you, or a loved one, are suffering from depression, it may seem difficult to reach out for the required help. Often the first step to seeking help is speaking to a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling.

Make an appointment with your family practitioner and have an honest discussion with them, explaining how you are feeling and for how long. It is important to outline how depression may be affecting your relationships, your ability to perform your job and any other aspects that might help to demonstrate the impact it is having on your life.

Your family practitioner may suggest certain changes to your lifestyle that could help you to feel better, or may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, depending on the severity of the condition and a number of other factors.

While some studies have suggested that regular exercise may be beneficial for mild to moderate depression, there are a number of treatment options including counseling and medicine. Help is available and, no matter how hopeless you may feel, depression can usually be effectively treated or managed.