HEALTH SPECIAL...Are you ignoring your mental health?

Are you ignoring your mental health?

Don’t let depression affect your life negatively. Experts say emotional wellbeing is as important as physical health

    Are you a w a r e that a whopping 350 million people across the world are battling d e p re s s i o n ? According to the World Health O r g a n i s at i o n (WHO), World Mental Health Day, which was yesterday, aims to increase awareness about mental health issues. This year, the focus is on Depression: A Global Crisis. A concern for healthcare professionals the world over, depression can be a debilitating disorder if left untreated.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
    Depression is a mood disorder, characterised by persistent feelings of sadness. “It entails a loss of sense of control over one’s moods and a subjective experience of great distress. It affects one’s moods, thoughts and biological drives as well. Mental health is directly related to one’s quality of life. While mental disorders don’t show themselves in scans and blood tests, they can be as debilitating, if not more, than physical ailments. They lead to significant impairments in all spheres of life — professional, academic, relational or self-care,” says psychiatrist Dr Samir Parikh.

WHY HAS IT INCREASED?
    There are many contributing factors that can exacerbate depression, one being extreme l o n e l i n e s s. “Marital discord, tough competition, too many e x p e c t at i o n s from others, climatic conditions, long commuting hours and not eating right leading to vitamin deficiency add to already existing d e p re s s i o n traits,” says clinical psychologist S e e m a H i n g o r r a ny. “Positive mental well being is essential for overall health. People who have positive, mental health are more productive, suffer less chronic illness and feel good about themselves and their relationships,” she adds.
    Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Varkha Chulani says there has also been an alteration in the mindsets of people. “Where life in the past was relatively simple, today it is more complex because of confused ideologies of happiness, success, contentment. People are discontent with themselves, often comparing themselves to others, chasing illusions of what they ‘think’ would make them happy, are ‘wrongly’ believing that success and happiness are synonymous and are running after materialism by compromising ethics. The last decade has led to philosophical confusion and depression has increased dramatically. Most depression is attitudinal, not really chemical,” she adds.
UNDIAGNOSED DEPRESSION
    Depression is a chronic and episodic condition. “Untreated, the severity, duration and frequency of these episodes can increase. It can lead to social withdrawal and isolation. Such people find it difficult to fulfil professional roles and physical health can also get affected. Patients often take to alcohol and other substances. Amongst children and adolescents, undiagnosed depression may present itself as academic impairment, behavioural acting out or other risk-taking behaviour,” says Dr Parikh.

TREATMENT
    “Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and EMDR Therapy have been effective. Such structured therapy in conjunction with medication is the best way to cure depression. All cases don’t need medication though, depression can get cured just with therapy as well,” says Seema.
    “Intervention goals must focus ensuring patient safety, symptomatic relief and relapse prevention. Psychological therapies aimed at providing emotional support, and correcting errant thought patterns, faulty coping systems and dysfunctional interpersonal interactions are essential,” adds Dr Parikh.

SYMPTOMS
Persistent feelings of sadness and a loss of interest or pleasure in all or most activities, social withdrawal, early-morning awakening, insomnia or hypersomnia Significant weight gain or loss, or increase or decrease in appetite, restlessness, irritability, difficulty in concentrating or making decisions Decreased energy levels, fatigue or lethargy, reduced sex drive, persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain Negative thinking patterns, giving rise to feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, pessimism, indecisiveness or helplessness. Thoughts of death or suicide/ suicide attempts.

 Did you know ? 

 The WHO estimates that depression will be the leading cause of death and disability by 2020, second only to heart disease. 

World over, 90% of suicides are as a result of depression, substance abuse or some other psychiatric condition. 

Zeenia F Baria BT121011