Depression
A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ - John Steinbeck
image by: Depression and Anxiety Support Group
HWN Suggests
Depression Screening is Long Overdue
We all get depressed. It's not even just when there are obvious reasons for us to feel that way. Sometimes we're just "down," "off," "in a funk." Every now and then a day more or less in bed, even when we're physically well, seems just what the proverbial doctor ordered.
Nonetheless, depression—the most common of all mental disorders, according to the American Psychological Association—is a significant enough health risk that a panel…
Resources
Crisis Text Line - US and Canada
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, about any type of crisis. Text HOME to 686868 from Canada, anytime, about any type of crisis.
US Helpline
We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Canada Helpline
Asking for help can be hard. That’s why we offer a safe place to talk, chat or text - any time, in your own way. If you are thinking about suicide, you don’t have to face it alone. Reach out today.
Remedy Live
The one thing you must do while visiting RemedyLIVE is to chat with a SoulMedic! These amazing people, available 24/7, are committed to chatting with you, listening to what you’re going through, and loving you with the hope of God. To learn more about our SoulMedics visit www.soulmedicmedia.com.
UK Helpline
116 123 (UK & Ireland) Whatever you're going through, call us free any time, from any phone on 116 123. We're here round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it's best to call us on the phone. This number is FREE to call. You don't have to be suicidal to call us.
Depression Test
Taking a screening test is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. The M3 screening test on this site is completely anonymous and confidential.
It's That SAD Time of The Year
As we watch the winter solstice disappearing in the rear view, we find ourselves eagerly awaiting the lengthening daylight hours and the early signs of spring on the horizon. So why are so many of us beginning to submerge our souls in the winter blahs?
'Shock therapy' isn't as scary as its name—or the movies—suggest
For the majority of people suffering from depression, medication can help ease symptoms. Antidepressants aren’t perfect, and it can take a few tries to identify the best drug for each person, but in most cases, they work. However, somewhere between 10 and 30 percent of people don’t respond to any treatment.
Dear Therapist: My Boyfriend’s Depression Is Making Me Question Our Future Together
I want to be there for him, but his depressive episodes are difficult for me to handle.
Depression in Children and Adolescents: Screening
The USPSTF recommends screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. Screening should be implemented with adequate systems in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate follow-up.
How Can You Help Someone Who Is Depressed?
An expert describes how well-meaning offers of support can go awry—and how to really make a difference.
I tried ketamine to treat my depression. Within a day, I felt relief
How the veterinary anesthetic and recreational drug saved me from suicidal thoughts.
Inside the Push to Legalize Magic Mushrooms for Depression and PTSD
Todd says there have been clear benefits from psilocybin with few side effects. He hasn’t had a single PTSD episode since he began taking it. His depression evaporated. The mushrooms even help ease the pain—agony that feels like being “shot in the back”—from the nerve-crushing tumors in his spine and skull.
Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug
Motivated by guilt and desperate for anything that might halt his own downward spiral, he scoured the internet for something new to try. He quickly came across headlines trumpeting a new treatment for depression. He didn't know it yet, but he'd just found the medicine that would change his life—ketamine.
Running From the Pain
Exercise can be a very effective way to treat depression. So why don’t American doctors prescribe it?
Teenagers Say Depression and Anxiety Are Major Issues Among Their Peers
The survey found that 70 percent of teenagers saw mental health as a big issue. Fewer teenagers cited bullying, drug addiction or gangs as major problems; those from low-income households were more likely to do so. The consistency of the responses about mental health issues across gender, race and income lines was striking, said Juliana Horowitz, an associate director of research at the center.
The Food That Helps Battle Depression
The right kind of diet may give the brain more of what it needs to avoid depression, or even to treat it once it’s begun.
We need new ways of treating depression
Experts are now looking to the social and environmental causes of the disorder affecting millions.
People with depression use language differently – here’s how to spot it
From the way you move and sleep, to how you interact with people around you, depression changes just about everything. It is even noticeable in the way you speak and express yourself in writing. Sometimes this “language of depression” can have a powerful effect on others. Just consider the impact of the poetry and song lyrics of Sylvia Plath and Kurt Cobain, who both killed themselves after suffering from depression.
Thriving after depression: Why are scientists ignoring good outcomes?
Yes, depression can be a lifelong problem. Yet as we dug deeper into the epidemiological findings, we also saw signs of better outcomes – an aspect that we found is rarely investigated. For example, in rare longitudinal studies that modeled the whole population, 40 to 60 percent of people who had depression once never experienced a recurrence, even after being questioned years and even decades later.
Battling Anxiety, Depression And Tech Addiction In The Workplace
Beyond simply updating their benefits, Serbinis encourages companies to take a holistic view of employee health. “We need to shift to a proactive, preventative method of healthcare, building healthy habits into daily lives and routines,” he says. “Employers have an incentive and opportunity to help here, given how much of our daily lives we spend at work and how much is spent on healthcare.”
Postpartum Depression in Men? New Research Says Yes
For millennia we have seen links between childbirth and depression. But a new study suggesting that fathers can also be susceptible make help take our understanding of the condition beyond the biological.
The most dangerous form of depression hides behind a smile
While smiling depression is not a technical term that psychologists use, it is certainly possible to be depressed and manage to successfully mask the symptoms. The closest technical term for this condition is “atypical depression.” In fact, a significant proportion of people who experience a low mood and a loss of pleasure in activities manage to hide their condition in this way. And these people might be particularly vulnerable to suicide.
This Is What It's Like to Live With High-Functioning Depression
Sometimes, depression robs you of your best self quietly.
Treating depression is guesswork. Psychiatrists are beginning to crack the code.
Brain scans and machine learning programs are paving the way for a breakthrough.
Ashley Judd Has a Bad Case of Puppy Love
Depression has a new form of treatment that is safe and has no side effects. Well, maybe the occasional wet face. Around the world, dogs are being used to help people cope with mental illness.
Diagnosing Depression
Many people use the words depressed and depression in everyday life, without understanding the full extent of what it really means to have a mental disorder, such as anxiety or depression. A lot of people will have ups and downs in their everyday mood, but depression strikes for weeks and even months on end. It’s a health condition that can’t be cured by ‘snapping out of it’. However, with the right diagnosis and treatment, most people with depression can make a full recovery.
Dopamine: Serotonin's Secret Weapon
A smart dopamine med may do wonders for you. The problem is one doesn't exist.
Exercise is Medicine - Ask Alanis Morissette
Everyone has felt depressed at some point in their lives; whether you suffer from sporadic bouts of moodiness or full-blown depression the question is always - how do you pick yourself up when you're feeling down?
Is Depression Just Bad Chemistry?
The disorder is complex and has so far eluded a simple biological explanation.
Is There Really an Epidemic of Depression?
A new book argues that the mental illness is being overdiagnosed.
Looking Loneliness in the Face
Everyone knows what it is to be lonely. Even in a crowded public place, in a marriage, in a house full of siblings, one can feel lonely, disconnected, as if there's no-one else there. It's a price inherent to being the only one looking out at the world through your eyes.
Panel Calls for Depression Screenings During and After Pregnancy
Women should be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth, an influential government-appointed health panel said Tuesday, the first time it has recommended screening for maternal mental illness.
Robin Williams - It’s All in the Eyes
You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it - Robin Williams
Study shows direct manipulation of brain can reverse effects of depression
Manipulating the brain has been a tool used in the treatment of mental illness for centuries, and treatments have often been controversial. From psychosurgery, including lobotomy and leucotomy, to electro-convulsive therapy, which is still used to treat depression and psychotic illness today, more modern methods include deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
SUICIDE: Do You Know What to Look For?
Despite the widespread use of antidepressants, the worldwide rate of suicide has not changed, which reinforces the importance of recognizing who's at risk. You may save a life!
To Treat Depression, Drugs or Therapy?
You’re feeling down, and your doctor or therapist has confirmed it: You have depression. Now what?
U.S. Advisory Group Recommends Routine Depression Screening
The panel evaluated research from recent years and concluded that depression continues to be an important enough disease that it needs to be incorporated as part of primary care for all adults. It gave depression screening its “B” rating, meaning that there is a high certainty of a moderate benefit to be derived from screening—or a moderate certainty that the benefit is “moderate to substantial.”
Why Depression Needs a New Definition
Many psychiatrists believe that a new approach to diagnosing and treating depression—linking individual symptoms to their underlying mechanisms—is needed for research to move forward.
Depression Screening is Long Overdue
Clinical depression is so common, so potentially damaging, and so often undiagnosed that a board coalition of experts now recommends that primary care providers screen everyone over 12 for what is the most common of all mental disorders.
Blurt
We really understand how devastating depression can be. Jobs come to an end, relationships break down and lives can be lost, all through the effect of depression. That’s why the work we do here at Blurt is so important – it not only changes lives, but saves them.
iFred
International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression - iFred, is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to researching causes of depression, to support those dealing with depression, and to combat the stigma associated with depression. Though several organizations deal with mental illness, few, if any, actually focus internationally on depression in an encouraging, enlightening way.
Wing of Madness
For people suffering from depression that doesn't respond to treatment with one type of antidepressant, switching to a different type may be the best treatment, according to a new report.
AllAboutDepression.com
We are dedicated to providing accurate, current, and relevant information about clinical depression to the general public. The availability of good, factual information is important in helping millions of people affected by depression to understand that they are not alone, that help is available, and that they can feel better!
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Depression and bipolar disorder can be isolating illnesses, but DBSA support groups can help you connect with others who have been there as well. Visit a DBSA support group and get the support that is essential to recovery.
Depression-Guide.com
Depression is like a tree that has many roots...The depression-guide is devoted towards helping and assisting people who suffer from the depression, anxiety, adhd and related disorders. It also tries its best hand towards support resource for family, friends and loved ones in learning about depression and other anxiety attacks related disorders.
DepressionLife.com
A Self-Help Treatment Manual...How I Use Nutritional Supplements to Save My Life Every Day
Mental Health America
Clinical Depression is a common, real and treatable illness.
MentalHelp.net
Everyone has days where they feel blah, down, or sad. Typically, these feelings disappear after a day or two, particularly if circumstances change for the better. People experiencing the temporary "blues" don't feel a sense of crushing hopelessness or helplessness, and are able, for the most part, to continue to engage in regular activities.
National Alliance on Mental Health
Major depression is a mood state that goes well beyond temporarily feeling sad or blue. It is a serious medical illness that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, mood and physical health. Depression is a life-long condition in which periods of wellness alternate with recurrences of illness.
National Institute of Mental Health
Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Medications, psychotherapies, and other methods can effectively treat people with depression.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth. PPD is widely misunderstood and does not discriminate; rich or poor, famous or not, every new mom is susceptible. 15% of mothers will suffer full-blown postpartum depression which usually requires medical intervention. PPD may occur right after delivery or up to a year later; most of the time PPD occurs within the first 4-6 weeks after delivery.
Postpartum Support International
Postpartum Support International is dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth.
PsychCentral
We've compiled a library of depression resources for you to explore. We encourage you to take your time with these resources, print out things you'd like to read more carefully, and bring anything you have additional questions about to your family doctor or a mental health professional.
Psychology Information Online
Depression can affect anyone. Once identified, most people diagnosed with depression are successfully treated. Unfortunately, depression is not always diagnosed, because many of the symptoms mimic physical illness, such as sleep and appetite disturbances. Recognizing depression is the first step in treating it.
Psychology Today
At times everybody gets down in the dumps, but if life is consistently getting you down and your lows are making it hard to function, you may be depressed. Find out whether your slump is critical with the Depression Test.
Psycom
This site is the Internet's central clearinghouse for information on all types of depressive disorders and on the most effective treatments for individuals suffering from Major Depression, Manic-Depression (Bipolar Disorder), Cyclothymia, Dysthymia and other mood disorders.
American Psychiatric Association
For many people, depression cannot always be controlled for any length of time simply by exercise, changing diet, or taking a vacation. It is, however, among the most treatable of mental disorders; the majority of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
American Psychological Association
Depression is a real illness and carries with it a high cost in terms of relationship problems, family suffering and lost work productivity. Yet, depression is a highly treatable illness, with psychotherapy, coping and cognitive-behavioral techniques, and medication.
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Clinical depression is a serious condition that negatively affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. In contrast to normal sadness, clinical depression is persistent, and significantly interferes with daily life. Untreated, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years; and if inadequately treated, depression can lead to other health-related issues.
FamilyDoctor
Is depression more common in women than in men? Yes. Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. The reason for this is unknown, but changes in a woman's hormone levels may be related to depression.
Healing Well
Did you know such greats as Abraham Lincoln and Beethoven battled depression? We've learned a lot since then.
HealthyPlace
We want to help you learn as much as you can about depression and to offer you depression support in your recovery. We have trusted, in-depth information on the different types of depression, depression warning signs and the different kinds of depression treatments. And, if you or a loved one need it, we have suicide hotline numbers and comprehensive suicide information.
Holisticonline.com
Depression Infocenter...Everyone has felt sad at times. Depressed individuals tend to rationalize their depression and deny their illness as something normal. They feel that their feeling of sadness has some rational foundation.
Medical News Today
The latest Depression News articles published daily. Includes news on symptoms, treatments and current research towards understanding and combating depression.
ScienceDaily
Some of the latest news on depression.
TeensHealth
Depression is very common and affects as many as 1 in 8 people in their teen years. Depression affects people of every color, race, economic status, or age; however, it does seem to affect more girls than guys.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.