9/11-15/08                               

Depression Facts/Statistics

Clinical depression affects about 19 million Americans annually. It is estimated to contribute to half of all suicides. About 5%-10% of women and 2%-5% of men will experience at least one major depressive episode during their adult life. Depression affects people of all races, incomes, and ages, but it is three to five times more common in the elderly than in young people.

Prevention

People who have risk factors for depression should be "screened" regularly by their health-care provider. This means that when they see their health-care provider, questions should be asked that might indicate depression.

If identified early, those who are at risk for depression are more likely to benefit from treatment.

Getting Help: Support Groups and Counseling

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 800-SUICIDE.

Additional information about depression can be obtained from these organizations:

LINKS

www.emedicinehealth.com  Launched in 1996, eMedicine.com comprises one of the largest and most current Clinical Knowledge Base available to physicians and other healthcare professionals. eMedicine's subscription site for institutions is iMedicine.com. Nearly 10,000 physician authors and editors contribute to the eMedicine Clinical Knowledge Base, which contains articles on 7,000 diseases and disorders. The evidence-based content, updated regularly, provides the latest practice guidelines in 59 medical specialties. eMedicine's professional content undergoes 4 levels of physician peer review plus an additional review by a PharmD prior to publication.

www.netdoctor.co.uk  NetDoctor.co.uk is a collaboration between committed doctors, health care professionals, information specialists and patients who believe that medical practice should be based on quality-assessed information and, wherever possible, on the basis of the principles of evidence-based medicine.

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/  MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.

www.psych.org  The American Psychiatric Association is a medical specialty society recognized world-wide. Its over 38,000 U.S. and international member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorder, including mental retardation and substance-related disorders. It is the voice and conscience of modern psychiatry. Its vision is a society that has available, accessible quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Mental Health Information Center provides information about mental health via a toll-free telephone number (800-789-2647), this web site, and more than 600 publications.

www.nimh.nih.gov  The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

www.mayoclinic.com  Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of virtually every type of complex illness. Mayo Clinic staff members work together to meet your needs. You will see as many doctors, specialists and other health care professionals as needed to provide comprehensive diagnosis, understandable answers and effective treatment.

www.kidshealth.org  Welcome to TeensHealth! TeensHealth was created for teens looking for honest, accurate information and advice about health, relationships, and growing up. We offer a safe, private place that's accessible 24 hours a day to get the doctor-approved info you need to understand the changes that you (or your friends) may be going through - and to make educated decisions about your life.

National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610
(800) 826-3632

National Foundation for Depressive Illness
PO Box 2257
New York, NY 10116
(800) 239-1265 or (212) 268-4260

National Institute of Mental Health
(301) 443-4513 (local)
1-866-615-6464 (toll-free)
nimhinfo@nih.gov

National Mental Health Association
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 684-7722 (local)
(800) 969-NMHA (6642) (toll-free)

Self-Care at Home

Once you are being treated for depression, you can make lifestyle changes and choices that will help you through the rough times and may prevent depression from returning:

• Try to identify and focus on activities that make you feel better. It is important to do things for yourself. Don't isolate yourself. Take part in activities even when you may not want to. Such activity may actually make you feel better.
  
  
• Talk with your friends and family and consider joining a support group. Communicating and discussing your feelings is an integral part of your treatment and will help with your recovery.
  
  
• Try to maintain a positive outlook. Having a good attitude can be beneficial.
  
  
• Regular exercise and proper diet are essential to good health. Exercise has been found to increase the levels of the body's own natural antidepressants called endorphins.
  
  
• Try to get enough rest and maintain a regular sleeping pattern.
  
  
• Avoid drinking alcohol or using any illicit substances.

What to do if you are depressed

• Talk to people about how you feel. Don't bottle things up. It is NOT a sign of weakness to get help for your problems, in the same way that it would not be to get medical help for a broken leg or a chest infection.
  
  
• Although you may not be able to do the things you normally would (such as work), try to keep active as much as you can. Lying in bed or sitting thinking about your problems can make them seem worse. Taking physical exercise can also help depression and keep your mind off your worries.
  
  
• Do not increase your alcohol intake to try and 'drown your sorrows' or help you sleep better. Alcohol will only make the depression worse and harder to treat.
  
  
• If you are having problems sleeping, try not to lie in bed thinking about your problems and anxieties. Do something to take your mind off your worries such as reading or listening to the radio.
  
  
• Always remember that you are suffering from an illness. It is not you being weak, and you can NOT simply 'pull yourself together'. Your illness is treatable. You are also NOT ALONE. Depression is extremely common.
  
  

What to do if you know somebody who is depressed

Sometimes people are not aware that they are depressed. This particularly happens when the depression comes on slowly. In addition many people suffering from depression blame themselves for not coping as they normally would, rather than thinking there might be some illness that has caused them to be this way. The illness can make a person think that it would be a sign of weakness to seek help for their difficulties. If you think that this has happened to somebody, you should try to talk to him or her about it. Also try to remember:

• Listening can really help.
  
  
• Avoid saying, 'pull yourself together' or other remarks that make the person think that it is their fault that they are ill.
  
  
• If the person's problems do not sort themselves out in a week or so, suggest that the person seek professional help. Remind the person that this is not a sign of weakness or of being a failure.
  
  
• Don't nag the person or try to get them to do what they normally would. Remember they are suffering from an illness.
  
  
• Remind the person that they have an illness, that it is not their fault, and that they will get better no matter how hopeless they feel.
  
  
• Try to help them avoid resorting to alcohol, which does not help the situation. If the person talks of harming themself or committing suicide, take this seriously. Insist that they see a doctor.
  
  
• Remember that it does NOT increase the chances of a person committing suicide to talk to them about it.