World Health Day 2017: Let’s talk about depression
April 7 is World Health Day, and this year the campaign is hoping to fight stigmas around mental health by encouraging people to talk about depression.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 300 million people worldwide are now living with depression.
Fear of stigma coupled with lack of support for mental disorders prevent many people from accessing the treatment they need to live healthy and productive lives.
Understanding depression – what is it?
Everyone feels sad and down from time to time – this is a natural part of life. Feeling sad doesn’t necessarily mean you’re depressed – however, persistent periods of feeling low, sad and down could be pointing to something more serious than just feeling blue.
For many people though they’d like to, it isn’t just a matter of ‘getting on with it’ or ‘looking on the bright side’.
Being depressed shows itself in different ways; it commonly impacts how we feel, how we see ourselves and our relationships with others. If you experience a number of these symptoms on most days for a month or more, it could be time to seek help.
- Feeling tired most of the time
- Sleeping badly
- Loss of appetite, or eating more than usual
- Weight change – either loss or gain
- Feeling apathetic – unable to enjoy things you normally would
- Feeling of detachment
- Being reluctant to leave your house or engage in usual activities
- Losing confidence, feeling like life is pointless
- Inability to concentrate
- Suicidal thoughts
- Anxiety
If any of these symptoms resonate, try the depression self-assessment to see whether you could be suffering from depression.
Finding help and support
If you think you or a loved one could be struggling with depression, it’s important to know help and support is available.
Many people delay seeing their GP and wait a long time before seeking help, hoping things will pass if they simply ignore these feelings and tough it out. Taking depression seriously is one of the major aims of World Health Day this year – with the right help and support you can begin the road to recovery.
Treatment for depression varies depending on whether you have mild, moderate or severe depression, but typically involves a combination of talking therapies, lifestyle changes and medication.
Reading more
There are great resources on the web that can help you learn more about depression and support you in looking after your mental health. The World Health Organisation has put together a helpful overview about preventing depression as you get older.
If you want to learn more about coping with depression over 50, this Gransnet article provides a good overview. For more information about treatment, the NHS has outlined a guide about the different treatment options.
Finally, Mind, the mental health charity, is a great place to find an online community that can support you through diagnosis and treatment if you’re living with depression. Start with their overview of depression, including tips for helping yourself and friends and family.
Do you suffer with depression or know someone who does? Share your experiences in the comments below. How can we conquer stigmas and promote better mental health?
Disclaimer
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Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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