The National Depression Screening Day is held annually on October 8th to remind people of their needs to assess their mental health conditions.
The World Health Organization reports that there are about 350 million people suffering from depression worldwide. This shouldn't be taken lightly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as symptoms for depressive disorder put you on a much higher risk for other conditions such as alcoholism, addiction, eating disorders, and anxiety and panic disorders.
"Research is beginning to identify the millennial generation as higher risk for certain types of depression, like at work, evidenced by high absenteeism rates," Karla Ivankovich, PhD, counselor and adjunct professor of psychology at University of Illinois, Springfield told Yahoo Health. "The levels of stress that they are under, whether self-imposed or otherwise, makes them candidates for lots of mental health concerns."
Symptoms for depression include feeling hopeless and helpless; loss of interest on things that used to give pleasure; feeling drained and lack of energy; sudden weight gain or loss; too much or lack of sleep; feeling worthless or guilty; recurrent thoughts on suicide or death; and increase in physical complaints (headache or muscle ache) that are not associated with other medical conditions.
If these symptoms have been reoccurring for at least two weeks and are already starting to affect social, interpersonal and work relationships, experts advise an immediate appointment with a doctor.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) categorized depressive disorders in three different types: major depression, persistent depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder, Ivankovich said a person must experience at least five out of nine symptoms listed above during the two-week period. "It also has to represent a deviation from a person's normal functioning," she explained. "Additionally, at least one of the symptoms must include depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure."
Meanwhile, persistent depressive disorder also known as Dysthymia, is characterized by depressed moods occurring most of the day, most days, for at least a couple of years.
Bipolar disorder is an alternating condition of soaring highs and crashing lows. According to Ivankovich, "the mood cycle shifts from severe highs (mania) or mild highs (hypomania) to severe lows (depression)."
Other kinds of depression also include Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Substance/Medication-induced Depressive Disorder, and Deppressive Disorder due to another medical condition.
"Much of society believes that it's best to 'pull yourself up by the bootstraps' and just deal with life, so I often ask patients if they would delay seeking treatment for hypertension or diabetes," Ivankovich points out. "Mental illness is still an illness - and it can be devastating. Don't delay treatment. When symptoms last longer than a few weeks, it warrants a further look."