Clinical Depression is a Medical Problem ISMAIL Korme, LICSW, LCSW-C Community Mental Health Awareness Series OCO, Washington DC 09/29/2015

Disclaimer The purpose of this presentation is not to provide a medical advice or professional counseling with Specific diagnosis. Rather it is to educate, create awareness and identify resources . If you think you can relate to some of the symptoms of depression discussed in this presentation, you should seek help from your Primary care provider or a therapist. Resources are provided on the last page of this presentation.

Goals and Objectives To educate our self and the community as to why Depression is a mental health issue To understand the impact of the stigma associated with Mental illness To identify resources for those who are seeking treatment

True or False Depression is a form of Mental illness Only weak people gets depressed Females have higher rates of depression than males Depression does not run in the family Only adults can get depressed Talking about depression can only makes it worse Ans.: True, False, True, False, False, False.

Easy to explain physical complaints Culturally it is easy to point out what exactly is wrong with parts of our body below our neck

Human Brain But inside our head it is different story. In many culture it is a taboo subject to discuss or they have spiritual or supernatural explanation to what goes on inside our head. With the advancement biological science and imaging technologies however the experts can now tell us what part of the brain has a problem and what needs to be done to correct the problem

Images of a Depressed Person

The image of Depressed brain Comparing two brain images .

Definition Depression is a mood disorder. It is an impairment associated with social, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Depression can be a normal reaction to situation but can be also be disabling.

Facts World wide there are more than 350 million people who are suffering from some sort of depression.( Source: WHO) About 9 % of American adults suffer from some form of depression. Married women are more likely to be depressed than unmarried women.

Physical symptoms Fatigue Memory loss Sleep problems Trouble concentrating Weight gain or loss Headaches Backaches Muscle aches Chest pain Joint pain

Emotional Symptoms Crying Staying in bed all day and more Frowning all the time Feeling sad Lacking energy Lacking interest in activities Sleeping or eating too much Agitation and restlessness Craving for carbohydrates Anhedonia Inability to concentrate or think Feeling of worthlessness Feeling of hopelessness Suicidal ideation

Types of Depression Major Depression- Five or more serious symptoms of depression for more than two weeks Persistent Depressive Disorder- Depression lasting two years or longer Bipolar Disorder- Mood swing between high energy and low energy episodes Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- usually happens during the winter season Psychotic Depression- Person with both psychotic and depression at the same time Postpartum Depression- Women exhibiting symptoms of Depression after childbirth ( before?) Premenstrual Dysphonic Disorder (PMDD)- Depression at the start of menstrual period 'Situational' Depression- Depression when confronted with a very stressful situation Atypical Depression- Symptoms are usually different from other types of depression discussed above

Treatment of Depression Talk therapy Medication Combination of two or more treatments Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) Light therapy Web-based/smart phone apps intervention Collaboration with other professionals Eat balanced diet and count your calories Relaxation techniques Physical activity

Other remedies Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Herbal Holy water Self help (exercise, relaxation, prayers) Support groups

Self medication Alcohol and other addictive substance use; which is eventually self destructive over time if used to treat depression

Professional Service Providers Psychologists Psychiatrists Clinical Social Workers Professional Counselors Other Health Professionals

Other Providers Spiritual leaders Faith healers

Stigma The shame of being hospitalized for mental illness The stigma of caring the diagnosis of major mental illness The isolation the person imposes on himself The isolation the society imposes on the person

In Summary 3 must do’s when one is inflicted with a disabling emotional illness: 1- Seek professional treatment 2-Seek disability benefits 3- Seek support groups

Web Sources http://dbh.dc.gov/ http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ http://dbhds.virginia.gov/ http://www.nami.org/ http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/ http://cdc.gov/ http://www.mayoclinic.org/ http://www.psychiatry.org/ www.nimh.nih.gov http://www.who.int/ http://www.samhsa.gov/