Job Hazards

Depression

At some point in their lives, everyone goes through a period of depression. It is our natural reaction to respond this way to loss and everyday struggles, but we eventually bounce back from whatever is getting us down. However, sometimes these feelings of sorrow and helplessness may become so intense that the person cannot seem to shake them, and it can even prevent them from living a normal life. This sort of depression, known as major depressive disorder, can be treated through a combination of medication and therapy. Other forms of treatable depression include:

• Major depression
• Chronic depression
• Bipolar depression
• Seasonal depression
• Psychotic depression
• Postpartum depression

According to statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, almost 18.8 million Americans over the age of 18 are suffering from major depression. If depression goes undiagnosed and untreated, it may linger for years and gradually worsen until the person resorts to suicide as a solution. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among children and young adults age 10 to 24.

Symptoms of Depression

The signs and symptoms of depression that you should be on the lookout for include the following:

• Gloominess
• Lack of pleasure from hobbies and interests that used to be enjoyable
• Low self-esteem
• Short attention span
• Indecisiveness
• Insomnia or unwillingness to get out of bed
• Stomach ailments and other problems with the digestive tract
• Sexual troubles (e.g., decreased libido)
• Pain and discomfort (e.g., frequent headaches)
• Fluctuations in appetite causing weight gain or loss
• Thoughts about death, suicide, and self-mutilation
• Acts of self-mutilation or attempted suicide

Warning Signs of Depression

If a friend or family member is exhibiting any of the following warning signs, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional or go to the emergency room for treatment as soon as possible:

• Talk of death or suicide
• Talk of harming oneself or others
• Aggressive or impulsive behavior

Prior suicide attempts increase the likelihood that there will be more in the future. Any comments regarding suicide cannot be taken lightly. If someone you care about appears to have any intentions to commit suicide, they need to get help immediately.