Depression is a scary thing. What’s even more scary is that today, there aren’t many people who haven’t been personally affected by depression, whether it’s them dealing with it themselves or being close with someone who has been diagnosed with the mental illness. Unfortunately, even though so many people are affected by it every day, the general population doesn’t know nearly enough about the mental illness unless you’ve gone through some sort of psychology training. It’s so important that everyone knows at least certain things about depression, so that when they come across the mental illness in themselves or in someone else, they know what they’re dealing with and some basic things on how to handle it.
Roughly 20 million people suffer from depression in any given year in the United States, but worldwide that number grows to 350 million. It affects people from all races, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, social positions and geographic locations. So although it seems like those who are suffering from depression feel incredibly alone while dealing with it, know that you are not alone.
The average age of having depression lies between 25 and 29 years old, but approximately 8 percent of American adolescents will have some sort of depressive episode, if not a diagnosis of depression, at any point in time. Even though the median age is quite low, there is a significant amount of older people in society who suffer from depression as well. There is no age cutoff for depression, nor is there a specific age where it can begin.
According to DoSomething.org, “Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or poverty may make people who are already susceptible to depression all the more vulnerable to the illness.” But this does not mean that every person who is in a situation like these will suffer from depression. It’s just much more likely.
There are tons of symptoms of depression, not just an overwhelming case of sadness. Here are some of the main symptoms of depression that everyone should know and be aware of: sleeping too much or not at all, guilt and hopelessness, anxiety, lack of concentration, suicidal thoughts, noticeable weight loss or weight gain, poor appetite, loss of interest in things that were once very important to the person, fatigue, loss of hunger or severe increase in hunger, inability to feel pleasure, as well as many others. It’s important that people know the signs and symptoms of depression, in case they come across someone who is suffering and needs help but doesn’t know how to ask for it.
About 25 percent of all suicides and suicide attempts are caused by an case of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed depression. Also, 80 percent of all people who commit suicide had depression or showed some of the biggest symptoms of depression before their attempt or completion. And though the symptoms and signs of a potential suicide differ from depression, certain signs and symptoms definitely overlap.
Only about a third of people who are suffering from depression symptoms seek help from a medical professional. Whether it’s a fear of others finding out, being embarrassed, or the inability to seek professional help like that, the stigma surrounding mental illness is incredibly high.
Having depression makes you more susceptible to other illnesses, such as a basic cold. You’re more likely to have it worse than other people dealing with the common cold, as well as it being more likely that you’ll have it more often and recurrence than those around you.
Although many people believe that it is not true, depression is very treatable, and it can be treated in many different ways. But the first part of getting on the right path towards remission of the mental illness and getting it treated is reaching out for help in any way, which many people don’t do.
By 2032, the World Health Organization predicts that depression will be the second leading medical cause of disability, only behind HIV/Aids. The amount of people who suffer from depression has also grown ten times larger than how large it was in 1945 - not even 100 years ago. So if you don’t think that depression is a serious problem, it’s time to rethink that.
There are so many resources for people dealing with depression, and more people should know about them. From text chat lines to phone hotlines you can call at any time when you just need someone to talk to, to therapists and people willing to sit down for talk therapy sessions, to psychiatrists willing to help with medications, there are so many people willing to help those dealing with depression. Whether you can afford it or not, or if you want to keep is a secret from the people in your lives or not, there are plenty of ways for you to get the help you need to live a normal life.
It is so important for everyone who is suffering depression to know that they do not need to be alone in this battle, and that help is available to all those who ask for it. If you or anyone else is ever suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, please never hesitate to reach out for help. Whether you’re suffering from this mental illness or you know someone close to you who is suffering, or even if you don’t right now but may in the future, here is a list of important hotlines and resources that everyone should know about, just in case they ever need to use them.
The Samaritans Completely Confidential 24 Hour Hotline: 1(212)673-3000
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1(800)273-TALK or 1(800)273-8255
Disaster Distress Hotline: 1(800)985-5990
CrisisChat
Suicide Hotline Listings by State
Crisis Text Line: Text ‘GO’ to 741-741
LoveIsRespect Dating Violence Hotline: 1(866)311-9474
The Trevor Project: 1(866)488-7386
