DEPRESSION

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Depression is a common medical condition with very specific symptoms, but symptoms which may vary from person to person.
Depression is very common, affecting an estimated 25% of women and 12% of men during their lifetime. It can occur at any age and often recurs in people who suffer from it.
The cause is not known - the onset may be related to a stressful event, but it often begins for no obvious reason. Depression often runs in families. It is now recognised that depression is often associated with an imbalance in the delicate brain chemistry which controls our mood.
SIGNS and SYMPTOMS
'Depression' refers to a persistent (present consistently for more than 2 weeks) ....
- sad mood and /or
- loss of interest and pleasure in most activities
and is accompanied by some of these symptoms ....
- changes in appetite or weight
- altered sleep pattern
- restlessness or decreased activity which is noticed by others
- loss of energy or feeling tired all of the time
- difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- feeling worthless or inappropriate guilt
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
TREATMENT
Most people with depression will benefit from treatment - early recognition of depression and early treatment seem to decrease the severity and length of episodes.
Treatment is usually in the form of anti-depressant medication, psycho-therapy or a combination of both. Medication should normally be taken for at least 6 to 12 months to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
If you think you, or someone you care about, may be depressed, talk to a doctor - depression is a medical condition which responds well to treatment.
FRIENDS and FAMILY CAN HELP
It is important that family and friends encourage those who are depressed to get medical advice and treatment. It is also important to encourage them to continue with their treatment until they have recovered.
Emotional support can be provided by
- acknowledging that the person is suffering
- express affection and encouragement
- show that you respect and value the person
- help them keep active and busy
- don't criticise or blame the person for their behaviour
- don't expect them to "snap out of it" - they can't
- don't say or do things which worsen their self image
- don't ignore talk of suicide - notify a family member or the person's doctor immediately.

SELF ASSESSMENT QUIZ
If you feel that you may have symptoms suggesting depression, click here to complete a self assessment depression quiz - note : not all browsers will support this quiz.

Beyond Blue is a national Depression program - their website contains a lot of useful information and resources - it can be visited by clicking here.

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