Today is World Mental Health Day - You could be depressed

Clayton Sewell, Guest Writer

You were once a pleasant person, always wearing a smile. You always had enough energy to complete your tasks at work or home. If people were around, you enjoyed them as you were friendly towards everyone. You loved going to work.

However, gradually your thoughts, feelings and behaviour have changed. You feel down and now prefer to stay locked away in your room, and you have no energy to face the day.

You no longer feel like talking to anybody or spending time with your family or friends. Though you are tired, you find it difficult to sleep and wake up very early in the mornings. You spend a lot of the day trying to focus, but just cannot concentrate. People think you are being weak and should shake it off. But, you could be depressed.

Helpless and hopeless

You are bothered by frequent headaches and are often worried. Sometimes you just can't motivate yourself to do anything. You feel guilty, helpless and hopeless. Everything just seems so hard, and you feel like things will be better if you were no longer around.

Your body hurts and you cannot figure out why. The feeling of sadness and the crying make you so afraid. You drink alcohol and smoke to make yourself feel better. You ask yourself, what's wrong with me? The fear is that if you seek help, you will be humiliated. This also could be depression.

World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10. This year's theme is 'Depression: A Global Crisis', highlighting the fact that depression is one of the most common disorders worldwide and may be triggered by events such as the current global economic downturn.

It is estimated that more than one out of every 10 persons will experience depression. Depression may affect you in a variety of ways. A lot of Jamaicans ignore the signs of depression and some think that over time they will just start feeling better. The reality is that depression doesn't just fade away.

Without proper management, it gets worse and will impact negatively on how you interact with others, how you work or learn, and on your ability to earn a living. Increasingly, persons get to the point of despair where thoughts of killing themselves and others come into their minds.

Depression can be treated

Fortunately, there is safe and effective help for those who are depressed. Mental health-care providers exist throughout Jamaica, privately, as well as through the numerous mental-health clinics in the public sector.

Persons with depression can reach out to these providers and find someone who is willing to listen and in whom they can confide. If you believe a friend or loved one is depressed, then encourage them to get help and let the professional decide.

Dr Clayton Sewell is a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona and in private practice; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.