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 | Depression: a treatable condition
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Life is full of good times and bad, happiness and sorrow. But if you've been feeling "down" for more than a few weeks or are having difficulty functioning in daily life, you may be experiencing more than just the "blues." You may be suffering from a common yet serious medical illness called depression. Depression affects people of all ages, but it's also one of the most common and treatable mental health illnesses. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 17 million American adults suffer from some form of depression each year, with 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men expected to develop the illness during their lifetimes.Clinical depression affects employees at all levels. It ranks among the top three workplace problems, following family crisis. An estimated 200 million workdays are lost each year due to employee depression. Depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and if left untreated may last a lifetime. The good news
Clinical depression is highly treatable. Most people with depression, however, do not seek the professional help they need -- often because they don't know the symptoms, think depression will go away on its own, or are embarrassed to talk about how they're feeling. The signs and symptoms of depression are:- loss of interest in activities that normally are pleasurable;
- appetite and weight changes (either loss or gain);
- sleep disturbances (insomnia, early morning wakening, or oversleeping);
- fatigue or lack of energy;
- feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness;
- feelings of hopelessness or pessimism;
- difficulty in concentrating, remembering, or making decisions;
- persistent body aches and pains or digestive disorders not caused by physical disease; and
- thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.
The APA advises that anyone who experiences five or more of these symptoms for at least two weeks may have depressive illness and should seek the advice and assistance of a psychiatrist or other doctor. Anyone answering "yes" to thoughts of suicide should seek help immediately, regardless of the responses to the other symptoms. Treatment options for depression may be as simple as making lifestyle changes or talking to a counselor. In other cases, psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two may be recommended. An on-line Depression Questionnaire is available at www.mentalhelp.net.Additional information on depression can be found at http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/depression.htm.Customs Employee Assistance Program counselors are available by calling 202.927.5550 or 800.755.7002. |
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