Approximately 1,000,000 adults and 100,000 young people in Australia live with the illness each year. Despite its common occurrence, Depression continues to be stigmatised leading people to avoid seeking professional help.
Below are some of the misconceptions and the facts that really underlie them.
- Depression is normal, and everyone feels sad at different times about different things. – Depression lasts longer than a bout of sadness and causes a range of symptoms including significant weight loss or weight gain, sleeping problems, loss of energy, and an inability to concentrate or make decisions.
- It is a weakness of character. – Depression is a complex disorder which has psychological, environmental and biological components. Immediate family members are at higher risk of suffering from Depression, suggesting a genetic or physiological component to developing the illness.
- You can ‘snap out of it’. – Depression is a a serious health condition arising from a range of factors including chemical imbalances in the brain. Just like asthma or diabetes, you cannot simply ‘snap out of it’ or make it disappear at will.
- It only affects women – Men generally have different attitudes when it comes to mental health issues and help seeking behaviours, which makes it easier to be overlooked or left untreated. However, research shows that roughly one in four women and one in six men experience it at some point in their lives.
If you have been experiencing a depressed mood, or have lost interest or pleasure in things that was once enjoyable to you, consider making an appointment by calling 3067 9129.
