New Delhi: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh’s suicide has once again brought to fore the problem of depression. It is more relevant now than ever before because of the unusual and challenging situation brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics say that 264 million people around the world are affected by depression. There is still a tendency to not consider it as a serious condition and many feel that it about being lazy or finding the right activity to feel cheerful.
What is depression?
Very often, we use the term ‘depression’ loosely to describe ‘sadness’. Being ‘low’ on a given day or in a given situation is not depression. This is just a reaction to daily life challenges and is very different from depression also known as ‘clinical depression’ or ‘depressive disorder’.
Depression is a mood disorder that can impact different aspects of daily life such as sleeping, eating, and working. The WHO says that ‘long-lasting, moderate to severe depression can become a serious health condition’ and can even lead to suicide, reports ABP quoting WHO.
‘Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.’ Different social, psychological, and biological factors can cause depression for example loss of a loved one, unemployment, or abuse.
What are the different types of depression
They can range from mild, moderate, or severe. Here are some of the most common ones:
Major depressive disorder (MDD)- You have MDD if your depressed mood prevails for more than two weeks. The symptoms include a lack of interest in activities, fatigue, and changes in sleep and weight. Suicidal tendencies is also a part of MDD.
Persistent depressive disorder (or Dysthymia)- Considered to be less severe than MDD, it lasts longer than two years and more. The person suffering may also have periods with MDD with intermittent episodes of less severe conditions.
Postpartum Depression (PPD)- This happens to pregnant women who experience a shift in their hormones that affects their mood. Depression can occur during pregnancy (perinatal Depression) or after delivery (postpartum depression). Symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, inability to bond with the baby, and suicidal thoughts.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- This is season-specific. In most people, it starts from late fall and early winter and it goes away during the spring and summer. It is more common in places that are away from the equator and receive less sunlight during a certain period of the year. It affects women more than men.
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