All About Depression

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All About
Depression
A booklet for people with depression,
their carers, families and friends
This booklet was written by
Dr Jo Borrill, Clinical Research
Manager, Mental Health Foundation.
We would like to thank Professor
Jan Scott for her help in preparing
this booklet.
Published by:
The Mental Health Foundation
UK Office
83 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0HW
Tel: 020 7802 0300
Fax: 020 7802 0301
Scotland Office
Merchants House
30 George Square
Glasgow G2 1EG
Tel: 0141 572 0125
Fax: 0141 572 0246
E-mail: mhf@mhf.org.uk
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Registered Charity no. 801130
Copyright © 2000
Cartoons drawn by
Simon Whiteman
Copyright © 2000
The Mental Health Foundation
Price £2.00
ISBN: 0901944 91 2
Introduction
This booklet is for anyone who wants to know more about
depression. You may be experiencing depression yourself and
wondering where to find help. You may be supporting a friend
or relative who seems to be depressed, or you may work with
people who have symptoms of depression. This booklet will
give you information about depression and the kinds of help,
which are available. At the end of the booklet you will find
details of useful organisations, as well as examples of further
reading. We have included extra information on depression in
older people, since depression in this age group is often
overlooked.
The message of this booklet is that depression is a common
and serious mental health problem, but there are many ways
you can help yourself to recover and resume a happy and
fulfilling life. The more information you have, the better you will
be able to ask for the help you need.
The Samaritans can offer free and
confidential support 24 hours for
anyone experiencing emotional
distress. Telephone 08457 909090
or visit their website at
www.samaritans.org.uk
1
What is depression?
The word depression is used to describe a range of moods –
from low spirits to a severe problem that interferes with
everyday life. If you are experiencing severe or 'clinical'
depression you are not just sad or upset. The experience of
depression is an overwhelming feeling which can make you
feel quite unable to cope, and hopeless about the future. If you
are depressed your appetite may change and you may have
difficulty sleeping or getting up. You may feel overwhelmed by
guilt, and may even find yourself thinking about death or
suicide. There is often an overlap between anxiety and
depression, in that if you are depressed you may also become
anxious or agitated.
Sometimes it is difficult to decide whether you are responding
normally to difficult times, or have become clinically depressed.
A rough guide in this situation is that if your low mood or loss
of interest significantly interferes with your life (home, work,
family, social activities), lasts for two weeks or more, and
brings you to the point of thinking about suicide then you may
be experiencing clinical depression and you should seek some
kind of help.
Who becomes depressed?
Anyone can become depressed. Approximately one person in
six experiences depression of some kind in the course of their
lifetime and one in 20 experiences clinical depression. At any
one time, about one in 10 people will have some symptoms of
depression. Of course, people who are depressed do not always
seek help and even if they do, they may not always be
diagnosed as depressed, so these figures are only estimates.
2
People from all backgrounds, ages and cultures can experience
depression, although people vary in how they express their
difficulties. For example, some people use words such as ‘sad’
or ‘low’ to describe feeling depressed, whereas other people
describe their feelings in terms of their body, such as ‘a pain in
my heart’. In many Western countries women are more likely
than men to be diagnosed with depression, this is partly
because men are less likely to talk about problems in a way that
allows their depression to be picked up. Men are also more
likely than women to use alcohol to cope with feeling
depressed.
Children and young people
About two per cent of children under 12 experience depression.
This rises to about five per cent for teenagers. A particular worry
is the rise in the numbers of young men who attempt suicide,
which may be associated with depression, hopelessness, or
difficulties in their lives.
3
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