Are you caring for a parent experiencing Depression?
You may find this experience hard and isolating especially if you do not have someone to confide in.
To help you understand what your mum or dad is going through, as well as how to help yourself as a carer, here is some more information about parents with Depression.
People who are depressed experience an extended period of sadness or a negative mood, rather than a brief reaction of sadness to a stressful or difficult situation. In a depressed state, the brain and body do not function as well as they do in a non-depressed state. People who suffer from Depression are likely to experience problems with day to day activities especially when they lose interest in school or work.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions. In 2012, approximately 2.1 million people, almost 10% of the Australian population, were reported to be living with Depression. As of 2021, around 3.2% of children are diagnosed with Depression (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Teens or adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old had the highest rate of major depressive episodes followed by young adults aged 18 to 25. Around 11.3% of adults aged 25 to 50 experience mild to severe Depression, while only 4.5% of adults aged 50 and above experience this mental health condition (SingleCare, 2022).
We can categorise depression into three states, depending on the number and severity of symptoms.
Mild Depression is temporary bouts of sadness and other symptoms such as anger and hopefulness that do not last for a long time.
Moderate Depression can be reoccurring instances of sadness and worthlessness that heighten your insecurities.
Severe Depression or Clinical Depression includes all symptoms in mild and moderate depressions, together with delusions, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. People suffering from Clinical Depression most often find it hard to concentrate and think rationally.
Symptoms of Mild Depression in Adults
Symptoms of Moderate Depression in Adults include those in Mild Depression as well as the following:
Adults with Severe or Clinical Depression experience more than symptoms of Mild and Moderate Depression.
They also experience the following in a reoccurring manner:
Many different factors can contribute to Depression. A stressful and challenging circumstance such as the loss of a loved one, failure in work, a midlife crisis, social pressures, changes in lifestyle and experiencing familial and financial problems can trigger Depression in adults. Women, in particular, are also most likely to experience Depression compared to men – including Postpartum Depression, especially during stillbirth.
Other causes of Depression also include the following:
Children with untreated Depression can bring this mental health condition through adolescence and then adulthood. Unlike other mental health conditions, diagnosing Depression does not involve laboratory tests that can give definite results.
Diagnosing Depressions involves systematic interviews through a series of standard questionnaires alongside ruling out other behavioural and mental health conditions. This includes talking to the adult, their family, friends and workmates to assess their state (and severity of symptoms) on most days. For adults to be diagnosed with Depression, they must experience most of the symptoms on most days for at least 6 months. To address Depression, help bring your parent to a GP or a Psychiatrist for early diagnosis and treatment.
People who are depressed show an imbalance in their biochemistry or a deficiency of neurotransmitters in their brain that contribute to feeling ‘happy’ emotions. This is why prescribed medication such as Anti-Depressants can be a useful method of treatment. Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and personal and family counselling have been evidenced as the most successful treatment of Depression.
In most cases, adults can be in denial of their symptoms and tend to hide their feelings not only from their partner but more so from their children. If you suspect or see obvious signs of Depression in your mum or dad, help them find a GP for evaluation and to design a multidimensional treatment that will work best for your parent.
It is very difficult for a child to see their mum or dad suffer from a mental health condition especially Depression. The best way to help your parent or anyone experiencing mental health problems is to get them to see a GP or a Psychiatrist for professional help. You can also turn to a mental health phone line or browse online for mental health services if you need assistance, especially on how to go about this process.
Aside from seeking professional help for your parent, you can also take care of your mum or dad by physically being there for them when things get tough. You can also lessen the worries of your parent by being a good child and by giving affirmations and reassurances that can calm down their thoughts and emotions.
Seeing your parent having a hard time with their mental health condition can be an exhausting, frustrating, confusing and isolating experience. But you don’t have to go through it alone. HelpingMinds® offers free and confidential support to Carers or to people who are caring for someone living with mental health challenges. We offer free counselling, and support groups, as well as rest and revive activities for all ages.
Would you like to know more about free and confidential mental health carer services and how we can support you? Please feel free to contact HelpingMinds® via the form below or on (08) 9427 7100. For one of our team to get back to you, we will require your email address and/or phone number. Please know all information provided will be treated completely confidential and in line with our privacy policy.
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© 2024 HelpingMinds®.
How We Can Help
Supporting Mental Health Issues For Families, Young People & Adults.
Get In Touch
All calls made to our Carer Centre will be directed to our metro or regional offices.
Head Office
182 Lord Street, Perth WA 6000
Phone: (08) 9427 7100
Fax: +61 (8) 9427 7119
Free Phone: 1800 811 747
HelpingMinds® respectfully acknowledge that we work on Aboriginal land and pay our respects to community members and Elders, past and present. Individuals pictured are models and are used for illustrative purposes only.
HelpingMinds® is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. HelpingMinds® welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity. For more information, see our Diversity Statement.
HelpingMinds® prides itself on being an accessible and inclusive organisation, ensuring everyone who needs support is able to access the right service and receive the help they need. If you require accessible locations, an interpreter or translator services, please contact us. For more information, see our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
Helping Australians since 1976.
© 2024 HelpingMinds®.
Privacy Policy
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Carer Rights
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How We Can Help
Supporting Mental Health Issues For Families, Young People & Adults.
Get In Touch
All calls made to our Carer Centre will be directed to our metro or regional offices.
Head Office
182 Lord Street, Perth WA 6000
Phone: (08) 9427 7100
Fax: +61 (8) 9427 7119
Free Phone: 1800 811 747
HelpingMinds® respectfully acknowledge that we work on Aboriginal land and pay our respects to community members and elders, past and present. Individuals pictured are models and are used for illustrative purposes only.
HelpingMinds® is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. HelpingMinds® welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity. For more information, see our Diversity Statement.
HelpingMinds® prides itself on being an accessible and inclusive organisation, ensuring everyone who needs support is able to access the right service and receive the help they need. If you require accessible locations, an interpreter or translator services, please contact us. For more information, see our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
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