Depression

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     Occasionally, everyone feels sad or blue; we all experience the changes in our mood. But these feelings are short-lived and are present for just a couple of days. But, when these feelings start interfering with an individual’s daily life, then it causes disturbance to the person suffering and the family. This is commonly called as depression.

     Depression, which is also called as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a mood disorder, which causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This affects behavior, sleep and appetite, thoughts, how a person feels, and hence it can lead to different physical and emotional problems. Many a times, patients also think that life is not worth living.

Facts:

• Depression is the most common mental disorder.
• Around the world, more than 350 million people, of all ages suffer from depression.
• 1 in every 4 young adults suffer from a depressive episode before the age of 24.
• Depression distorts ones thinking.
• Severe depression leads to suicide. Approx., 1 million deaths are due to suicide every year.
• Alcohol is a depressant.
• WHO estimates that by the year 2030, depression will be the second highest medical cause of disability.

     Depression if not attended to, it can be long lasting or recurrent, which substantially impairs the functioning of an individual. Depression may become a serious health condition. At its worst, depression can also lead to suicide.

     Although there are known and effective treatments for the depression, less than half of them (in some countries less than 10%) receive the treatment.