MENTAL ILLNESS AND PERSONALITY DISORDER:DEPRESSION

HSP3C

DEPRESSION

Type of mental illness called a “mood disorder”

Mood disorders affect the way you feel, think and act

Individuals with depression always feel “down” and hopeless

Changes in life: feelings, physical health, thinking and behaviour

CHANGES.

1) Feelings: Signs of being unhappy, worried, guilty,

loneliness, hopeless

CHANGES.

2) Physical Health Headaches or other general aches that they

cannot explain May feel tired all the time Have problems eating

CHANGES.

3) Thinking Low self-esteem Self-blame Negative thoughts about themselves Hard time concentrating They believe the world can be a better

place without them

CHANGES.

4) Behaviour Withdraw from others Shows less interest in activities that they

normally enjoy

SYMPTOMS

Persistent (for a long time) sad, anxious, “empty” feelings

Feelings of hopelessness (do not believe anything will work out)

Loss of interest in enjoyable activities Fatigue (tired) and less energy Difficult concentrating Suicide thoughts Loss of appetite OR over-eating!

TYPES OF DEPRESSION

Type Definition (What it is)

1) Major Depressive Disorder

- Person’s ability for work, sleep, study, eat and pleasure-able activities go away- Have a hard time living life - Recurs throughout a person’s life

2) Chronic Depression

- Long-term - Similar symptoms to major depressive but not as severe- Does not disable the person from living life

CAUSES.

NOT ONE CAUSE – a combination

Genetics + Biological (DNA)

Environmental (things that are happening around you)

Psychological (mental imbalance triggered by events)

DIAGNOSIS

Can be difficult to diagnose someone with Depression

Evaluate symptoms – how long you’ve had them, when they started and how they were.

Your doctor will ask questions about the way you feel (to see if they match any of the symptoms of depression)

TREATMENT

Earlier treatment, the better

Each treatment is for each individual

Most common = medication + psychotherapy

TREATMENT

1) Medication Anti-depressants

Works on brain chemicals Regulate mood

Must be taken 4-6 weeks before medicine to begin working

Keep taking medicine until the doctor says “stop”

If one medicine doesn’t work – another might!

TREATMENT

2) Psychotherapy Talk to a therapist, which helps them learn

how to deal with illness

Two types of Psychotherapy: 1) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 2) Interpersonal Therapy

PSYCHOTHERAPY (1)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

- Negative thoughts are restructured

- Look at environment (surroundings) and relationships in a positive way

-Find out what YOU are doing to add to the depression

PSYCHOTHERAPY (2)

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

- Helps people understand and work through troubled relationships

- These may have caused the depression or make it worse.

LIVING WITH DEPRESSION

BAD MOOD VS. DEPRESSION

Bad Mood Depression

- Feeling sadness, loneliness or grief when going through a difficult life experience

- Continue to function (live life)

- You know that you will bounce back and everything will get better

- Feelings of sadness, loneliness or grief do not go away

- Sadness interferes (disrupts) your work, sleep and recreation (hobbies)

- Cannot “pull yourself together” to get better

DID YOU KNOW?!?!

The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk

for developing depression is

3.2 million.