DEPRESSION FACT SHEET
from Mental Health America (http://www.nmha.org/) and the
National Institute of Mental Health (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml)
SIGNS OF DEPRESSION
Everyone gets down from time to time, but sometimes it's more than just "the blues." Sometimes, it
can be clinical depression. Clinical depression affects more than 19 million Americans each year. It is a
real illness that can be treated effectively. Unfortunately, fewer than half of the people who have this
illness seek treatment.
Too many people believe that it is a “normal” part of life and that they can treat it themselves. Left
untreated, depression poses a huge burden on employees and employers. It causes unnecessary
suffering and disruption in one's life and work, and costs about $44 billion a year in lost workdays,
decreased productivity and other losses.
KNOW THE SIGNS
The signs and symptoms of clinical depression are:
Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping)
Overeating, or appetite loss
Loss of pleasure and interest in once-enjoyable activities
Restlessness, irritability
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as chronic pain,
headaches, or digestive disorders
Difficulty concentrating at work or at school, or difficulty remembering details or making
decisions
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
Thoughts of suicide or death
If you experience five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, you could have clinical
depression. See a doctor or qualified mental health professional for help, right away.
If you know someone who exhibits any of these symptoms and has frequent, unexcused absences,
discuss the situation with the individual, but do not try to diagnose the problem. Make sure the person
knows that seeking help is the healthy thing to do.
DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE
Sometimes the multitude of life’s changes that occur during your college years can trigger serious
depression. At this vulnerable time, the smartest thing you can do for yourself is to seek help. If your
feelings of constant stress and sadness go on for weeks or months, you may be experiencing more than
just difficulty adjusting to life’s changes. Seek assistance from a doctor or mental health professional,
the university counseling service, or the student health center. While in treatment, there are a number
of steps you can take to help you cope on your way to recovery.
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Carefully plan your day. Make time every day to prioritize your work. Prioritizing can give you a
sense of control over what you must do and a sense that you can do it.
Plan your work and sleep schedules. Too many students defer doing important class work until
nighttime, work through much of the night, and start every day feeling exhausted. Constant
fatigue can be a critical trigger for depression. Seven or eight hours of sleep a night is important to
your well-being.
Participate in an extracurricular activity. Sports, theater, fraternities and sororities, the student
newspaper – whatever interests you – can bring opportunities to meet people interested in the
same things you are, and these activities provide welcome change from class work.
Seek support from other people. This may be a roommate or a friend from class. Friendships can
help make a strange place feel more friendly and comfortable. Sharing your emotions reduces
isolation and helps you realize that you are not alone.
Try relaxation methods. These include meditation, deep breathing, warm baths, long walks,
exercise – whatever you enjoy that lessens your feelings of stress and discomfort.
Take time for yourself every day. Make special time for yourself – even if it’s only for 15 minutes a
day. Focusing on yourself can be energizing and gives you a feeling of purpose and control over
your life.
Work towards recovery. The most important step in combating depression and reclaiming your
college experience is to seek treatment. Your physician should communicate to you that remission
of symptoms should be your goal and work with you to determine whether psychological
counseling, medication or a combination of both treatments is needed.
TAKE A DEPRESSION SCREENING
Whether for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or depression - health screenings provide a
quick and easy way to spot the first signs of serious illness and can reach people who might not
otherwise seek professional medical advice. Clinical depression is a common medical illness affecting
more than 19 million American Adults each year. Like screenings for other illnesses, depression
screenings should be a routine part of healthcare.
WHY SCREEN FOR DEPRESSION?
 Clinical depression is a serious medical illness.
 Clinical depression can lead to suicide.
 Sometimes people with depression mistakenly believe that the symptoms of depression are a
"normal part of life."
 Clinical depression affects men and women of all ages, races and socioeconomic groups.
 One in four women and one in ten men will experience depression at some point during their
lifetime.
 Two thirds of those suffering from the illness do not seek the necessary treatment.
 Depression can co-occur and complicate other medical conditions.
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More than 80% of all cases of clinical depression can be effectively treated with medication,
psychotherapy or a combination of both.
Screenings are often the first step in getting help.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you have symptoms of depression is by
taking a free, confidential depression-screening test
One of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you have symptoms of
depression is by taking a free, confidential depression screening test like this one:
http://www.depressionscreening.org/depression_screen.cfm .
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT DEPRESSION
Although depression affects 10 percent of Americans, there are still a number of misconceptions that
exist. Here are some common myths about depression and the real facts.
1. Myth: Depression doesn’t affect me.
Fact: According to a 2004 survey by the American College Health Association, nearly half of all college
students report feeling so depressed at some point in time that they have trouble functioning, and 15
percent meet the criteria for clinical depression. This means that someone in your life that you care
about (or maybe yourself) could face depression at some point in college or in adulthood.
2. Myth: Depression is not a real medical problem.
Fact: Depression is a real and serious condition. It is no different than diabetes or heart disease in its
ability to impact someone’s life. It can have both emotional and physical symptoms and make life very
difficult for those who have it. The medical community has acknowledged the seriousness of
depression and recognizes it as a disease. While no one is completely certain what causes depression,
we know that genetic and biological factors play a significant role in development of this disease.
3. Myth: Depression is something that strong people can “snap out of” by thinking positively.
Fact: No one chooses to be depressed, just like no one chooses to have any other health condition.
People with depression cannot just “snap out of” their depression any more than someone with
diabetes can. It is not a sign of weakness or laziness to be depressed; it is a health problem resulting
from changes in brain structure or function due to environmental and biological factors.
4. Myth: Depression only happens when something bad happens in your life, such as a breakup, the
death of a loved one, or failing an exam.
Fact: Depression is more than just having occasional sad thoughts. While everyone experiences ups
and downs in life, and often will feel sad for some time after a serious loss or disappointment,
developing depression does not require a specific negative event. Prolonged periods of hopelessness,
sadness, and lack of interest in things someone usually enjoys are symptoms of depression. Depression
can arise suddenly, even when things in life seem to be going well.
5. Myth: Depression will just go away on its own.
Fact: While for some people, depression may go away without treatment, this is not usually the case.
Without treatment, symptoms of depression can continue for weeks, months or even years.
Depression can lead to suicide, the third leading cause of death for 18 to 24 year olds, reinforcing the
importance of seeking treatment. The good news is that most people do get better with treatment.
6. Myth: Antidepressants will change your personality.
Fact: The thought of taking medicine that changes your brain chemistry can be scary. However,
antidepressants are designed to change only certain chemicals that underlie the symptoms of
depression, not to change your personality. Most people who take antidepressants are actually happy
to feel like themselves again, rather than feeling like a different person. It is best to speak with your
doctor about the effects that antidepressants can have.
7. Myth: Talking about depression only makes it worse.
Fact: While it is easy to understand why someone might be worried about discussing their depression,
being alone with your thoughts is even more harmful when facing this disorder. A lot of people with
mental health problems are stigmatized in our society, so the best thing you can do to help a friend is
be a good, supportive, and non-judgmental listener if they choose to talk with you. If you are hesitant
to discuss difficulties you might be facing with a close family member or friend, think about other
people in your life, like spiritual leaders or faculty members who would be willing to discuss your
struggles. If at any point, you feel so overwhelmed by feelings of sadness and hopelessness that you
are considering hurting yourself, call 1-800-273-TALK for help.
FACT: Depression is a serious illness, but most people get better with help. To find out more about
depression and where to get help, contact your local Mental Health America affiliate or call Mental
Health America at 800-969-6642.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
Phone: (800) 826 -3632
http://www.dbsalliance.org/
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Phone: (866) 615-6464
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Phone: (703) 907-7300
http://healthyminds.org/cmhdepression.cfm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Phone: (800)-789-2647
http://www.samhsa.gov/ http://whatadifference.org/index.html
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/