Depression Is The World's Most Common Mental Illness

“Recent data estimate the overall prevalence of depression at about 11.1% of the American population, or nearly 35 million individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). A predictive models suggest that up to 50% of the population will experience at least one episode of depression during their lives” (Life Extension, 2014). Depression has negatively affected the lives of many individuals throughout the world. Look around you there may even be someone close to you that is demonstrating signs of its stifling affects. Depression does not discriminate with its suffocating

Depression is a serious mental health illness when left unattended, and it affects not just the mind but the whole body. It is characterized by hopelessness, loss of interest, sadness, lack of sleep or too much, loss of appetite and suicidal thoughts. When one has an episode, there is a possibility of having more episodes in the future. According to Statistic Canada (2012), depression is one of the common mental illnesses in Canada. Statistic Canada’s (2012) Canadian community Health survey (CCHS) on mental health report state that 6.7% of 15 years and up has depression, while 11.6% of 1 in every 8 has major depression. (“6.7% of the Canadian population aged 15 years and above reported symptoms that met the criteria for depression. On the other hand, 1 in 8 adults with 11.6% identified symptoms that met the criteria for major depression”). Craft and Perna (2004) gives a rough estimate pf depression in US adult to be 9.5% yearly and projection of 17% in the future.( stated that depression affects “roughly 9.5% of the US adult population each year, and17% more will suffer at some point in time”). As reported by Statistic Canada depression runs across young adults to adults, which implies that depression is not a respecter of age.

Major depressive disorder has a significant place in our country. “In 2015, an estimated 16.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. This number represented 6.7% of all U.S. adults” (National, 2015). These numbers do not exclude bereavement, medical illness or substance use disorders. This means that almost 7 people out of every 100 are suffering from depression.

That unexplainable feeling that touches every emotion. The action that creates something new inside, skydiving for the first time or getting your driver’s license. Imagine all these feelings lost in time and having no happiness while your mind is surrounded by a shroud of lonesome and self-hatred. Depression affects everyone, it does not matter what race, ethnicity, and genes have been proven to not have an affect. This illness shows the biggest increase in mental disorder compared to others. 18 million people have been affected, or are still experiencing Depression, this amount is more than cancer, and almost as much as heart attacks. There is a one in ten chance of people to become depressed in the U.S. I want to help the people close to me as I notice changes in them. My friends and loved ones do not deserve this conflict, and I will not let it lead to other deeper, and worse problems. I have found many different topics in my articles, and after reading these I have chose to talk about how to help those who are sheltered by Depression. Famous writers and organizations have detailed information based on evidence and experience. By knowing this information, they have begun to set up ways to help, based on the most efficient increase in happier people. With this information I hope any reader can help the cause also.

Depression affects close to 19 million Americans, 9.5% of the population in any one given one-year period. At some point in life 10% - 25% women and 5% -12% of men would probably become clinically depressed. Furthermore it affects so many people that it is regularly referred to as the mental illness “common cold”. It is predicted that depression exacts an economic cost of over $30 billion each year, but the value of human torment can’t be measured. Depression not only causes discomfort to those who are depressed, but in a like manner it causes misery for their friends and family who usually don’t know how to help. There are 9 categories of depression, the first type is called major depressive disorder this syndrome decreases a person’s ability to eat, sleep, work, and function as he or she typically would. It stops people from enjoying activities that used to be pleasurable, and it often makes them to think negative about the world and themselves. Major depression is generally debilitating and may occur in several occasions in a person’s lifetime. The second type of depression is called Dysthymic disorder and it is a moderate however more enduring type of major depression, someone with dysthymia may seem to be chronically mildly depressed to the point that it appears to be a factor of their personality is not common for someone to struggle with this condition

Depression is a fast growing epidemic in America, claiming the lives of an estimated one in eight people in our country; and several thousand in that number express faith in Jesus Christ (“Depression Statistics”) . But if God loves us, why does he allow us to feel this way? Where do we turn for up-to-date answers about this issue when the Bible was written over 2000 years ago? Believe it or not, the Bible contains some of the most compelling stories of painful and crushing depression, and the plan and purpose God had for those people who felt that way. You won’t find the word “depression” in the Bible, but you will find many biblical characters described as forlorn, downcast, heavy-laden, or brokenhearted. These are characters such as Job,

It’s normal to feel down in the dumps every so often but, if it affects daily life activities you may have depression. Depression is when a person is excessively sad, anxious, or apathetic for a certain amount of time. There are other symptoms to classify depression but the main ones would be a consent feeling of sadness and the thought of suicide or death. When depression is consumed by a person it may be difficult to revert them without the assistance of treatments such as: Anti-depressants, Psychotherapy, electric shock, interpersonal, psycho dynamic and cognitive behavioral.

Major Depression: Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions worldwide and is the most common psychiatric disorder (Singh & Gotlib, 2014). Symptoms of MDD can include: loss of appetite, lack/loss of energy or pleasure, fatigue, disturbed sleep patterns, and suicidal ideation. Depression is considered a disabling disease as all aspects of the individual’s life are affected by the illness (Milanovic, Erjavec, Poljicanin, Vrabec, & Brecic, 2015). The underlying cause or mechanism of depression has many theories that stretch from biological (chemical imbalances) to psychosocial (socio-economics) (Roy & Campbell, 2013).

The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020 depression will be the 2nd leading cause of disability (Kessler and Bromet 2013). According to the American Psychiatric Association (2017), depression is a common and serious mood disorder that “negatively affects how [one] feels, the way [one] things] and how [one] acts.” More specifically, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Depressive Disorders (DSM-V) defines a major depressive episode as a “period of two weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or los of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, self-image, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (National

People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities suffer from major depression, with a few exceptions.

Depression is a significant mood disorder that can present many issues with daily rituals, personal thoughts, and how an individual feels or acts. It can be accompanied by a persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness, irritability, worthlessness, hopelessness, and guilt. Those who endure it lose interest in formerly pleasurable activities, experience fatigue, have difficulty concentrating, undergo weight and appetite changes, and in severe cases even contemplate suicide and death (National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). In the United States alone it is estimated that over 15 million people are affected by it. Globally, depression affects 350 million people and it is recognized as the “leading cause of disability worldwide” (World Health

According to the World Health Organization (2017), depression impacts approximately 300 million people and is the leading cause of disability globally, which greatly contributes to disease worldwide. Of the world’s adult population, approximately 16 percent of them will experience at least one depressive episode within their lifetime (Chatwin, Peta, Brett, Sharon, & Terri, 2016). An individual’s health condition may become seriously affected when depressive episodes are prolonged with moderate to severe intensity (World Health Organization [WHO], 2017). Depression can cause an individual to suffer greatly and their ability to function within their family and their performance in other everyday tasks, such as work and/or school, diminishes

Depression is currently the number one mental disorder in the world, as well as one of the leading causes of years lived with disability (Hales & Lauzon, pp.58, 2012). It does not only alter the way you think but it also alters the way you feel, your social behavior and your physical wellness (Hales & Lauzon, 2012). According to Hales and Lauzon (pp. 58 – 59, 2012), the onset age for depression is during adolescence. In Canada, 8% adults will experience depression and 15% – 40% of college students who are at the age of 18 – 24 are likely to suffer depression (Hales & Lauzon, pp.58 – 59, 2012).

Depression is one of the fastest growing psychological disorder. It affects a major part of the world population. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), depression is defined as a condition in which a person feels discouraged, hopeless, unmotivated or disinterested in life in general. There are two types of depression namely Major Depression and PDD (Persistent depressive disorder) (America). A major depressive episode involves an interference with the ability to work, play, eat or sleep. Also, a major depressive episode will have five symptoms namely persistent anxiety or sadness, feelings of guilt or helplessness, loss of appetite and thoughts of death and suicide etc. Some of the causes may be the death of a loved one, a romantic breakup and a medical illness etc. On the other hand, PDD is less severe than major depression but involves a lot of the same symptoms such as low energy, poor appetite, and overeating etc. According to the ADAA, the difference between major depression and PDD is that a person with major depression sees life as worthless and may try to end it. Whereas, a person suffering from PDD will see life as a half empty. According to the DBSA, roughly 14.8 million American adults are affected by major depressive disorder (Alliance). Some more statistics include the median age of onset is 32 and that it is prevalent more in women compared to men. The purpose of my research proposal is it successfully try to instill the idea in

Approximately 11.4% of the United States population or 2.8 million American Adolescents between the ages 12-17 have suffered from at least one Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the year 2014 (National Institute of Mental Health 2014). A MDE is defined as a period of at least two weeks or longer where one experiences a depressed mood, loss of interest, and pleasure and experiences symptoms such as altered appetite, sleep issues , weight loss or gain, lack of energy, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Of these 2.8 million American adolescents suffering from depression less than 33% actually receive treatment (Teen Help 2015). Depression is a highly treatable disease with treatments ranging from therapy to the use of prescribed medication. Recent studies have shown that healthy lifestyle changes can also be an effective treatment for teenage depression and is a much cheaper alternative to more expensive treatment options. A healthy lifestyle can alter one’s brain chemistry thus improving teens mental health, and through healthful eating and daily exercise adolescents and teens can treat and prevent depression and anxiety disorders.