The information provided on the show is for general information purposes only. If you have a health problem, medical emergency, or a general health question, you should contact a physician or other qualified health care provider for consultation, diagnosis and/or treatment. Under no circumstances should you attempt self-diagnosis or treatment based on anything you have seen on the show.It’s likely that someone you care for will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. That’s because an estimated 300-million people are affected by the disorder worldwide.
Dr. Diane McIntosh, a physician, educator, and policy advocate, stopped by
The Social to discuss her book
This is Depression and how to make sense of it all, including diagnosing depression, the mind-body connection, and how to talk to your loved ones about it.
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Depression entails a depressed mood, and a loss of interest and/or pleasure. To be diagnosed, you must experience some form of functional impairment, such as the inability to perform normal daily activities necessary to meet one’s basic needs, fulfill responsibilities, and maintain health and wellbeing.
DIAGNOSING DEPRESSION
We’ve all felt sad or depressed after a trauma or negative experience. The key to differentiating between a tough period in life and something that might qualify as a depression disorder is that depressive symptoms affect daily life and persist for long periods of time. While going through a hard period in life, you can usually still work and parent as you would normally.People with depression say that it feels like their brain doesn’t work, or describe a feeling of consistent brain fog. They can’t normally function, and it goes far beyond the stress period. Seek help if feelings persist for more than a couple of weeks and if your sleep or appetite begins to be affected.If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor and don’t hesitate to do so. Don’t feel ashamed to seek help.
INTERSECTION OF THREE RISK FACTORS
It’s common to look at mental illness as a nature versus. nurture debate, as in it’s something that you’re born with, or that it’s caused by a trauma. However, it’s never usually as simple as a single cause - there’s always multiple factors.Every mental illness has three factors: biological, psychological, and social. For example, biological factors can be estrogen, or brain transmitters. Psychological can come from personality styles or someone’s temperament. Social refers to stresses in our social lives, like house foreclosure or divorce. All of those melded together creates a risk for mental illness.
MIND BODY CONNECTION
Mental health disorders like depression can absolutely have an impact on physical health. The connection between your mind and your body is real, and it has serious implications for chronic disease and early mortality. Depression is associated with diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and inflammatory disorders like arthritis and psoriasis.
SOCIAL FACTOR
Oppressed populations can be more likely to be affected by depression. For example, research found that racial discrimination is a chronic stressor among African Americans, and that depression among Black Americans can be more chronic or severe. They’re also less likely to be treated compared to white Americans.Many people from the LGBTQ community also report being denied healthcare due to sexuality. In fact, 30% of transgendered individuals avoid seeking acute preventative healthcare due to discrimination and disrespect.These groups are all less likely to seek out help, and this changes how they’re affected by depression.
TALKING TO A LOVED ONE ABOUT DEPRESSION
If you think you may know someone suffering from depression, it can be tough to figure out the best way to talk to them about it. First off, you can never go wrong by showing compassion. You can tell someone that you’re worried about them or that you’ve noticed worrying symptoms.You can’t control anyone else, but you can tell people you care about them, or ask what you can do to help them. Get them talking about the problem – make an appointment for or with them, and help get them there. Or, if they have kids, you can help out with child care. There’s lots of different ways you could help, so the best avenue to follow is to make sure they know you’re here to help and ask them to tell you what you can do.
When it comes to mental health, every action counts! Join the conversation on Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 29, and help create positive change for those living with mental health issues. For every text message, mobile or long-distance call made by Bell, Bell Aliant and Bell MTS customers, Bell will donate five cents to Canadian mental health initiatives. The same goes for anyone sending a tweet using #BellLetsTalk, watching the Bell Let’s Talk Day video on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or Snapchat, or using the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter. But that’s just the first step: Visit letstalk.bell.ca for more ways you can effect change and build awareness around mental health.[video_embed id='1616953']RELATED: New initiative aimed at understanding the biological causes of depression[/video_embed]
