Mental health issues are very commonplace in our society and they are on the rise. In fact, depression continues to be the fastest-growing diagnosis in Canada. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 1 in 5 people in Ontario experiences a mental health or addiction problem. Specifically 16% of adults will experience depression or anxiety at some point in their life, yet, sadly only 20% of those dealing with depression or anxiety will receive adequate treatment.some misconceptions and in providing public awareness about the condition. For example, the “Defeat Depression” campaign which is pan-Canadian and Bell’s ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign featuring Canadian Olympian, Clara Hughes. Despite a seemingly successful career, Clara has also endured depression and she is now helping others to talk about their depression so that they can access mental health services.
Furthermore, the lifetime recurrence rate of major depression after one episode is 50%, after two episodes 70%, and after three episodes is 90% after three years if the depression is untreated. The reasons for not seeking help and for not getting appropriate treatment can be attributed to the stigma and misconceptions about depression. As with other mental health conditions, depression carries a stigma. To encourage people to seek help, many recent campaigns about depression have been successful in helping debunk
Depression is a serious condition that affects how a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Depression is not simply ‘unhappiness’, rather, it is a complex mood disorder characterized by a feeling of sadness that is present most days and lasts for more than 2 weeks. Depression is debilitating in that it can affect a person’s work performance, studies and relationships. Other symptoms may include: sleep problems, feeling useless or hopeless, feelings of excessive guilt, low self-esteem, low energy, loss of interest/pleasure in activities, changes in appetite, weight changes (loss or gain), fatigue, irritability, trouble concentrating, and persistent aches/pains.
While there is no single explanation for mood disorders, including depression, understanding its physiology continues to evolve. There is evidence to suggest that neurochemicals play a role. Neurochemicals are chemicals involved in the functioning of an organism’s nervous system. A person’s neurochemistry can have profound effects on his or her health, abilities, and behaviour. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine neurotransmitter dysfunction is implicated in mood disorders, however, a single cause is unlikely. Research continues to be focused on various factors such as: neurochemicals, brain circuits that are ‘emotion-mediating’, genetic components, and environmental stress. Understanding that there are multiple factors that may cause depression is important because it can help debunk some misconceptions about depression and offer insight to the various treatment options available to depressed people