Depression And Undiagnosed Depression

Whether we are becoming a more depressed population or simply changing the standards by which we diagnose is an area of some controversy. What is certain is that the medical system is now processing and treating—with ever-changing cocktails of psychotherapy, support groups, and pharmaceuticals—20% more Americans every year than the year before. Depression—together with its aftermath—is a staggering epidemic sweeping the country, ravaging countless lives in its

Many people believe that while mental illness exists in the world today, depression is not included and is rather just another form of long-term moodiness. Because of this perspective that societies share, depression has become a bigger problem than it needs to be.

Depression used to be diagnosed as melancholia..Between 1938 and 1955.Several reports showed that the commonness of depression in the general population was below 1%. “In the mid-1990s,the lifetime risk for depression was estimated as 3% to 4% worldwide.”(2) To control depression,the use of antidepressioants has grown rapidly since the late 1950s.By the late 1990s nearly 1.77 million people were taking one or even mulitiple antidepressioants for depression or diesases assumedly on the depressive spectrum.It has been suggested that in spite of the large uses of antidepressioants have been undertreated.

According to the World Health Organization (2017), major depression is a prevalent disorder, affecting over 300-million people globally. It is common for depression to be comorbid with other disorders, it is the leading cause of disability, and greatly increases risk of suicide, the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 15-29. This increasing prevalence is making the disorder continually pressing issue for mental health providers worldwide (World Health Organization, 2017).

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the world as well as one of the leading causes of suicide. This report contains information on its prevalence in Australia and risk factors. It also looks at the current treatments and various strategies being undertaken to combat the rise of depression cases in Australia. 2. DEFINITION OF DEPRESSION Depression is a mental health disorder that is characterized by a persistent sad mood that may cause loss of enthusiasm for daily activities, which prompts a huge hindrance in everyday life.

The World Health Organization (2015) indicates that, depression is the leading cause of disability globally, affecting approximately 350 million people, as well as a major contributor to the overall global burden of illnesses. Worst, depression can lead to people committing suicide. There are treatments available for depression. However, only fewer than 10% of those affected receive it. Several reasons that obstruct effective care include limitation of resources, lack of trained health care professionals, societal stigma associated with mental disorders, and ineffective patient assessment that results to misdiagnoses (WHO, 2015).

Despite the increasing number of studies on the over prescription of antidepressants some support this rise in antidepressant use, arguing that it is better to diagnose depression too often and too little (Barber 2008). Research has also been conducted not on over prescription, but in fact under prescription of antidepressants. These researchers are challenging the wide-spread assumption that doctors are handing out antidepressants too often, and suggest that they are in fact being underused instead of overused. In contrast to the study by Macdonald et al. (2009), Cameron et al. (2009) challenged the hypothesis that

Depression is one of common mental disorders. World Health Organisation (WHO) (2015) has estimated that depression affects 350million people of all ages worldwide. Depression has been seen as the leading cause of disability and the overall global burden of disease. People who are suffering from depression experience a constant feeling of sadness or loss of interest and pleasure in doing things they used to enjoy for at least two weeks along with other possible symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, poor or increased appetite, weight gain or loss, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, difficulty in making decisions, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (King, Davison, Neale & Johnson, 2007, p.231). In New Zealand, it has been estimated that one in six people experience serious depression at some time in their life. Depression has also been recognised as the most common risk factor for suicide behaviour (The Health Promotion Agency, n.d.). Globally, over 800 000 people commit suicide and die every year (WHO, 2015).

Depression is a health condition that can affect a person emotionally and physically. Untreated, depression can even lead to suicide, which is the third-leading cause of death among people under the age of 18 (“Antidepressant Drugs” 1). Depression

Depression affects over 121,000,000 people worldwide and the global mortality rate for depression is over 830,000 per year. Completed suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in women and the 5th leading cause of death in men. According to a global survey on depression, carried out by the World Health Organsation, over 15% of people in countries with high

Depression medications can be dangerous if prescribed without caution. Each medication for depression has its different benefits and side effects; some can even increase the risk of suicide. Treatments for depression vary. Medications tend to work better short-term and therapy more long-term while supplements are effective but have fewer studies than other treatments. According to Emory University, every year, 18.8 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with depression which makes it a prevalent problem. The university states, depression can put people at risk for suicide: “Two-thirds of people that die by suicide are depressed at the time of their death.” Depression needs to be treated carefully, knowing a life is at stake. If guaranteed

In a world where the population struggles with worries of life, many men, women, and children struggle with depression; however, new studies are showing that treating the disorder with antidepressants can do more harm than good. In 1990, millions of people used Prozac, a SSRI (a type of antidepressant defined later) to treat their mental disorders (Kent). Now, with suicide the third leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four year olds, the numbers are skyrocketing impossibly more (Williams). Depression percentages in teens are growing at an alarming rate also, in 2012 an amazing 28.5 percent of them claiming to be depressed. Even more worrying, not only depression numbers have increased. In the

In recent years there has been a noticeable increase in the number people who have been diagnosed with depression According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention one in ten Americans twelve and over are currently on antidepressants. This fact is especially true for females whose use was double of what men used. This increase in diagnosis and use of antidepressant many believe that depression is becoming an epidemic. Rottenberg mentions in his article the severity of depression epidemic according to the World Health Organization, “by 2030, the amount of disability and life lost as a result of depression will be greater than that resulting from any other condition, including accidents, war, suicide, cancer, and stroke”(Rottenberg). Though these statistics seem very alarming it may be a case of over medicalization. Medicalization is the when a problem that was not normally seen as a medical problem that has now seen as a medical problem. Examples of conditions that have been medicalized are ADHD, Alzheimer’s, and depression. Due to the fact that depression has been many are wondering if there is really a growing depression epidemic or is it a case of depression the being over medicalized.

Depressive episodes are still underdiagnosed and undertreated, in the primary care settings. Several factors contribute to this, including lack of detailed knowledge, lack of confidence in treatments, etc. Improving knowledge and confidence in diagnosing depression types in order to improve either treatment or referring patients to psychiatric care would help address this gap, and improve patients care and quality of life.

I always fail, no matter how hard I study. I always end up feeling unfocused and exhausted afterwards. I am not good enough.”