From Blue to You
Women and Depression
What is depression?
• A mental disorder or illness
• Involves the body, mood, and thoughts
Is depression common?
• Yes – 12 percent of women in the United
States
• Leading cause of disability
What are the symptoms?
•
Physical symptoms
• Emotional symptoms
•
Psychosocial symptoms
Stigma
• Listen for signs and symptoms
• Listen for feelings about having
depression
What do you hear about stigma?
• Talk therapy
Treatment
• Medication therapy
• Combination: talk and medication therapy
What to do if you think you have
depression
• Get help
• Relax
• Stay active
• Do something you enjoy
• Eat properly
• Review your lifestyle
• Avoid alcohol and drugs
• Take a break
• Don’t get upset if you can’t
sleep
• Read about depression
• Reach out to others
What do you do if a female family
member has depression?
• Get help
• Invite her out
• Encourage her to stick
with treatment
• Plan and prepare
healthy meals
• Offer emotional
support
• Do not accuse her of
faking illness or expect
her "to snap out of it"
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References
Beyond Blue (2008). What is Depression. Retrieved from www.beyondblue.org
Bhatia, S.C. & Bhatia, S.K. (1999). Depression in Women: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations.
American Family Physician, 60, 1, 225-240.
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/women.asp
Duckworth, K. (2006). About mental illness: Depression. Retrieved from
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cf
m&TPLID=54&ContentID=23039&lstid=326
Frank, E., Novick, D., & Masalehdan, A. (2003). About mental illness: Depression in women. Retrieved
from
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.
cfm&ContentID=61089
Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/MH00035
Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175
Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression: Supporting loved ones through their battle with depression.
Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/MH00016
NIMH (2008). How Do Women Experience Depression? Retrieved from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/how-do-women-experience-depression.shtml
Nutrition Health Center (2008). Depression Statistics Information. Retrieved from http://www.add-adhdhelp-center.com/Depression/statistics.htm
For More Information…
www.bluetoyou.org
Leigh Ann Simmons; MFT, PhD
former Assistant Professor
Department of Family Studies
Ester Edwards, BS
Graduate student
Department of Family Studies
Leslie Crofford, MD
Professor,
College of Medicine
Health Education through Extension Leadership
The development of the HEEL program was made possible by
Senator Mitch McConnell with funds earmarked for the University
of Kentucky, College o f Agriculture, Lexington Ky. and budgeted
through the CSREES/USDA Federal Administration.
April 2010
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