Are you supporting a family member or friend with depression?
This can be a stressful, overwhelming and isolating experience.
Here is some more information to help you understand what your loved one is going through and how to help yourself.
What is Depression?
In Australia, Depression is most commonly described as a feeling of sadness and people often refer to this medical condition as a ‘mood disorder’. 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.
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 and missed several important life events with their family and friends.
Educating yourself about depression and other mental health conditions is necessary to understand family and friends as well as other people with depression. At HelpingMinds, our aim is to highlight that you, or your loved one, are not alone and help is available for patients as well as for carers of people living with mental health conditions.
Symptoms of Depression
Depression can be categorised into three states depending on the number and severity of symptoms. The mild condition consists of temporary bouts of sadness and other symptoms such as anger and hopefulness that do not last for a long time. The moderate manifests through reoccurring instances of sadness and worthlessness that heightens your insecurities. Severe Depression or Clinical Depression, also sometimes known as Major Depression or Major Depressive Disorder includes all symptoms of Mild and Moderate Depression, together with delusions, hallucinations and thoughts of suicide. People suffering from Clinical Depression most often find it hard to concentrate and think rationally.
Generally, here are the signs and symptoms of most types of depression:
- Sad or irritable mood
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities, including those that were once pleasurable
- Unplanned weight loss
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Drug and alcohol dependency
- Reduced energy
- Feelings of guilt
- Poor concentration
- Indecisiveness
- Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide
As a result of these symptoms, people with depression find it difficult to undertake their usual activities of daily living.
What causes Depression?
Many different factors can contribute to developing depression, instead of one single cause. A stressful and challenging circumstances such as the loss of a loved one, failure in school or work, social pressures, changes in lifestyle and experiencing familial and financial problems can trigger this mental health condition. Other causes also include the following:
- Personality and genetic vulnerabilities
- Childhood experiences and trauma
- Biochemistry
- Poor lifestyle choices such as alcohol, drugs or poor nutrition
- Postnatal period
- Separation anxiety
- Other mental health conditions
Treatments of Depression
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 medication can be a useful method of treatment. Talking therapies such as counselling have been evidenced as the most successful treatment of depression.
It is really important that the person experiencing depression seeks help to address the contributing factors, by making healthy lifestyle changes and speaking to a health professional, such as a GP, about their feelings. Health professionals will be able to comprehensively assess your individual situation and make key recommendations for treatment options.
The recovery rates for depression are very positive and effective treatment is available.
Depression is for life.
Absolutely not.
Effective treatment is available, and many people successfully recover from depression.
Depression will lead to suicide.
No.
Most people who are depressed or who have lived with depression do not commit suicide, although some do and any talk of suicide should be taken seriously. Encourage them to talk about their feelings with you or suggest they call an anonymous 24/7 helpline.
How to help your loved one
The best way to help someone experiencing a mental health challenge or illness is to get them the professional medical help they require. Often, we have a strong desire to ‘fix’ or ‘solve’ someone else’s problem, however, this is not your role and should be left to a mental health professional. The best thing you can do is to help them find an appropriate service through a GP, a mental health phone line, or by searching for mental health services and support groups online.
How to help yourself
Having someone close to you who lives with mental health challenges can be exhausting, frustrating, confusing and isolating. But you don’t have to go through it alone. At HelpingMinds, we can help you help your loved one experiencing any long term mental health conditions by providing you with the resources on how to help someone with depression.
HelpingMinds® offers free and confidential support to people who are caring for someone living with mental health challenges. We offer free counselling, support groups, rest and revive activities, school holiday programs, family programs, youth programs and advocacy to people living in WA.
Get Support from HelpingMinds®
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.
