Depression. The metaphorical “elephant in the room” of our society.

Why does this issue affect so many people yet we are reluctant to talk about it? Depression is a heavy burden to carry and it is often talked about in hushed tones, when talked about at all, so individuals often carry the burden in isolation. We have become a culture of silence regarding this sickness and some may already feel uncomfortable reading about this topic. But why?

Depression currently affects 121 million people and the numbers are continually rising each year. Why is it rising, you ask? Because over 80 percent of people who have clinical depression symptoms are not receiving treatment. This can be for several reasons, but most will derive from the societal implications that are attached to the sickness. We have created a stigma with depression that associates it with mental weakness. We have made depression out to be seen as a shortcoming within a person.

I can tell you that none of this is true. Depression is a real thing that can happen to anyone regardless of health, wealth or status. It is not any type of weakness, nor is it a character flaw. We are all human. We all have life stressors that can stimulate this sickness. It is nothing to be ashamed of and it is definitely not something we should hide or ignore. Statistics shows that up to 80 percent of clinical depression cases can be effectively treated with brief psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. There is hope. We just have come together to eliminate the stigma attached to depression so that people who need help feel more inclined to get help.

In the past, depression was a health issue common among the older population. As time has passed and the environment has changed, the prevalence of depression has climbed down the age ladder. Depression is now seen in children as young as 11 years old and suicide is the second-leading cause of death for individuals 15-24 years old. As you may know, suicide and depression are closely linked. Depression has been described as a black hole that seemingly sucks you in, and sometimes depressed individuals feel the only way out is suicide.

When famous actor Robin Williams committed suicide in 2014 due to his depression, a discussion on mental illness exploded for a brief moment in time. During many of those discussions, some people warned about the dangers of the normalized silence regarding mental illnesses. Although controversially, I noticed that many others seemingly criminalized mental illness, as well. They made individuals with mental issues, such as depression, out to be liabilities or dangers to society. We cannot see depression or other mental sicknesses in this light. Criminalizing mental illness is the type of thing that discourages people from speaking up about their depression and thus worsens the issue.

The simple fact is that depression has become a health crisis right under our noses, and we still refuse to stand against it. The walls of our ignorance protect the sickness from being dismantled and we need to take down those walls. In a culture founded on the pursuit of happiness, depression is always going to be a hard topic to broach, but if we want to make a positive change, we have to bring that elephant out of the dark where it comfortably sits. Again I say, depression is not something to be ashamed of and you are not alone. You deserve happiness and you can find it again.

 

If you feel you have any symptoms of clinical depression, please contact your healthcare provider and have a discussion. Symptoms of clinical depression can include:

•Lasting sad, anxious or “empty” mood

•Loss of interest in almost all activities

•Appetite and weight changes

•Changes in sleep patterns, such as inability to sleep or sleeping too much

•Slowing of physical activity, speech and thinking, or agitation, increased restlessness and irritability

•Decreased energy

•Ongoing feelings of worthlessness and/or feelings of undue guilt

•Trouble concentrating or making decisions

Kelli Waddell, BS, public health studies, is a public health intern at Vidant Beaufort Hospital.