National Depression Screening Day & World Mental Health Day

Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place starting this week (Sunday, October 4^th until October 10^th). National Depression Screening day is October 8^th.

We encourage you to visit our [mhahouston.org]website and take a Depression Screening (also available in Spanish).

Depression Facts (Source):

·         Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% (more than 16 million) of American adults each year. 

·         Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide. 

·         While the majority of individuals with depression have a full remission of the disorder with effective treatment, only about a third (35.3%) of those suffering from severe depression seek treatment from a mental health professional.

·         Too many people resist treatment because they believe depression isn’t serious, that they can treat it themselves or that it is a personal weakness rather than a serious medical illness. 

·         There are several causes of depression, including co-occurrence with other illnesses, genetics, or how someone things. There are also several different types of depression, including post-partum depression, seasonal affective disorder, or persistent depressive disorder. 

Types of Depression

• Depressive disorders are a category of mood disorders. Some of the most common include:
  • Major Depressive disorder
  • Persistent Depressive Disorder
  • Post-Partum Depression
  • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder

Symptoms of Depression (not an exhaustive list):

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
• Restlessness, irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decision
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless

Resources (not an exhaustive List):

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
• American Psychiatric Association
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America

October 10^th is World Mental Health Day!

To learn more about Mental Illness week, national depression screening day, or World Mental Health Day, visit: https://mhanational.org/mental-illness-awareness-week