Everyone feels down or sad sometimes, and most of us will identify as feeling depressed at times. However, this is usually in reference to a specific trigger – and the symptoms often go away after a short period of time.
Depression on the other hand is a serious mental health issue. People who experience depression experience a number of symptoms, which significantly impact their day to day functioning. These symptoms include;
While nearly everyone experiences some of these symptoms at times, people with depression experience most or all symptoms.
While we don’t really know what causes depression, we know that there are number of factors that increases a person’s risk of developing a depressive illness. These include;
While none of these things can be said to “cause” depression, a combination of these factors can mean that a person is more likely to develop depressive symptoms during their life time.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian’s 25-44. While people who experience suicidal thoughts are often depressed, not all people with depression will have thoughts of wanting to die.
Risk factors for suicide include;
The most important thing to remember is that if you feel you might be depressed, talk to your GP or health specialist. We know from the research that the earlier we catch symptoms, the better the outcome.
In cases where there is a chronic health condition present such as obesity, treatment includes addressing and managing these symptoms; such as engaging in a medically assisted weight loss program. Helping a person achieve optimal physical health is a critical component of treatment when it comes to depression.
Wednesday, April 5th 2023 – 7:00 PM (AWST)