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