WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is not just a negative feeling or a sign of weakness, it is more of a

serious condition caused by changes in brain chemistry that has a converse effect
on how a person feels, thinks and behaves in any aspect of his life.

Clinical depression lasts at least two consecutive weeks, interfering one’s daily
activities.

WHERE DO PEOPLE GET DEPRESSION? IS IT GENETICALLY HERITABLE?

According to research, there are lots of factors that trigger depression—and one of
which is genetics. Scientists believe that more or less 40 percent of the
depression cases can be linked to genetics, while the environmental and other
factors fill the remaining. Research also shows that people with parents or
siblings who are suffering from depression are up to 3x more likely to experience
the same condition.

Moreover, changes in hormone level, medical conditions, such as stress and grief
and difficult life circumstances can be the reason for the onset of the condition,
whether alone or in combination.

Based on the statistical report of HOPELINE, the national suicide prevention

hotline in the Philippines, it shows that out of 3,479 calls in 2016, the most
common reasons for calling are relationship problems (199), anxiety (161), suicidal
thoughts (153) and crisis (111), family problems (108), and mental disorders (85).

WHEN DO WE KNOW THAT A PERSON IS DEPRESSED?

There are visible signs that would easily tell us if a person has depression.

According to a book by American Psychiatric Association entitled Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), a person is suffering
from depression when they have five or more of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks:

1. A depressed mood during most of the day especially in the morning.

2. Tired feeling or lack of energy almost every day.
3. They feel worthless or guilty almost every day.
4. They are having a hard time focusing, remembering details, and making
decisions.
5. They can’t sleep or actually sleep too much almost every day.
6. They usually have no interest or enjoyment in many activities almost
every day.
7. They start to think about death or suicide frequently (not just a fear
of death).
8. They feel restless or slowed down.
9. They lose or gain weight.
10. Feels irritable and restless.
11. Loses pleasure in life.
12. They overeat or stop feeling hungry.
13. They suffer from aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive
problems that don’t go away or get better with treatment.
14. They often have sad, anxious, or empty feelings.
Though most of these symptoms are typical marks of depression, not all those who
suffer from it will have the same ones. Also, the level of severity, the frequency,
and the span of time these symptoms happen vary.
WHO ARE PRONE TO DEPRESSION?

Based on research, women are more likely to experience depression than men. An
estimated average of one-third of women will experience a major depressing chapter
in their whole life.

The statistical report for HOPELINE also shows that females called more often than
males (2208 to 1271). Most of them have a low risk to commit suicide (2573) than
moderate (597) and high (309) risk. Furthermore, the statistical report states that
more than half of the calls in 2016 were from young adults aged 20 to 39 (1902
calls), followed by the group of adolescents or 12 to 19 (902 calls), next to mid-
adults or 40 to 64 (534 calls), and lastly, the elderly (123 calls).

WHY DOES DEPRESSION LEAD TO SUICIDE?

Severe depression promotes a pervasive sense of suffering as well as the belief

that death is the best way to escape from hopelessness. The condition prompts the
thought “Everyone would all be better off without me” to penetrate one’s brain due
to the pain of existence that is emotionally too much to bear for people with
depression. They tend to commit suicide because it’s simply the nature of their
condition.

HOW SHALL WE BEHAVE TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION?

Here are the nine best ways to support someone with depression according to
PsychCentral:

⁃ Be there.
According to Serani, an American psychologist, the best thing you can do for
someone with depression is to be there.

⁃ Try a small gesture.

If you’re uncomfortable with emotional expression, you can show support in other
ways, said Serani.

⁃ Don’t judge or criticize.

What you say can have a powerful impact on your loved one.

⁃ Avoid the tough-love approach.

Many individuals think that being tough on their loved one will undo their
depression or inspire positive behavioral changes.

⁃ Don’t minimize their pain.

It invalidates what they’re experiencing and completely glosses over the fact that
they’re struggling with a difficult disorder—not some weakness or personality flaw.

⁃ Avoid offering advice.

It probably seems natural to share advice with your loved one. Whenever someone we
care about is having a tough time, we yearn to fix their heartache.

What helps instead, Serani said, is to ask, “What can we do to help you feel
better?” This gives your loved one the opportunity to ask for help. “When a person
asks for help they are more inclined to be guided and take direction without
feeling insulted,” she said.

⁃ Avoid making comparisons.

Unless you’ve experienced a depressive episode yourself, saying that you know how a
person with depression feels is not helpful,

Learn as much as you can about depression.

You can avoid the above missteps and misunderstandings simply by educating yourself
about depression. Once you can understand depression’s symptoms, course, and
consequences, you can better support your loved one, Serani said.

“The truth is that depressive symptoms are lingering elsewhere, hidden or not easy
to see, so it’s important to know that depression has a far and often imperceptible
range,” Serani said.

⁃ Be patient.
Patience has a powerful result. “With such patience, comes hope,” she said. And
when you have depression, hope can be hard to come by.

She stressed that sometimes supporting someone with depression may feel like you’re
walking a tight rope. What do I say? What do I not say? What do I do? What do I not
do?

“But remember that just by being there and asking how you can help can be an
incredible gift,” she added.

One’s own psychological suffering is united to the suffering of Christ – who

suffered for me psychologically and physically. In Holy Communion, I receive his
flesh offered for me and his blood poured out for my redemption and my healing.
While this does not magically cure all physical or mental afflictions, the grace of
the sacrament does strengthen me to bear these burdens in union with Christ. Our
Lord says now to those who suffer what he said to his Apostles at the Last Supper:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice;
you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16:20), and he
assures us: “In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, for I have
overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-depression-overview
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
http://who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/world-health-day/en/
http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/genetic
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201004/the-six-reasons-
people-attempt-suicide
https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/05/08/9-best-ways-to-support-someone-
with-depression/
http://www.depressiontoolkit.org/aboutyourdiagnosis/depression.asp

https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/05/02/how-catholics-can-conquer-depression/