Fifty percent of university students suffer from clinical anxiety with more than one in 10 suffering from clinical depression, with the percentage only rising alarmingly on college campuses. This statistics is revealed by the UK-based Mental Health Foundation. This is majorly prevailed in the western countries, with high work-pressure and insecurities rising from professionalism and cut-throat competition. To add to the crisis, more than half of these students suffering significantly from anxiety or depression do not seek help. This disappointing situation, in which mental health service is not accessed by depressed students is revealed by a Web-based survey conducted by Daniel Eisenberg, assistant professor at the University of Michigan (U-M) School of Public Health. This is, in brief, what the survey found: � Anywhere from 37 to 84 percent of students didn’t seek disorder-depending treatment. � 72 percent of students with major depression acknowledged their need for help to handle their mental health. � Overall, only about 10 percent of students surveyed are found to have received therapy. � And, only 10 percent of surveyed students are found to have taken some type of psychotropic drug. Though disappointed with the prevailing scenario, but optimistic for the future, Eisenberg said, Often college student mental health is framed as a problem on the rise. One can also think of it as a unique opportunity because college campuses offer several ways to reach students and affect their lives positively. Ah! Here is a better opportunity for students to take assistance to curb their growing depression. The University of Michigan has developed a mental health assessment instrument to be used by a US national network of counseling centers to host a ‘Depression on College Campuses’ conference annually. It has conducted a stigma reduction campaign called “Real Men, Real Depression.” To read more about it, visit here… Image
Depression increases risk of Osteoporosis in women
Depression has its fallout on the physic of the depressed as signified in a series of researches. An Archive of Internal Medicine study found that women suffering from depression are more prone to bone loss from osteoporosis compared with women who are not clinically depressed. It is known that women are more prone to both depression and osteoporosis than men, with half of all women compared with only one in five men suffering from bone loss after the age of 50. Blood and urine samples revealed that depressed women had overactive immune system that produces higher level of chemicals that promote inflammation. A protein called IL-6 is chiefly responsible for triggering bone loss. The researchers found 17% had thinner bones in the femoral neck compared with only 2% of women who were not depressed. In the lumber spine area of the body, 20% of depressed women had low bone mass compared with only 9% of non-depressed women. However, a question remains to be answered that whether the high rate of osteoporosis in depressed women can be attributed to their mental condition or it is the side effect of anti-depressant drugs taken by the women who participated in the study. The US study is silent on this issue. Source:BBC Image:lifespan
One million suicides last year; who to blame?
Unfortunately, the year gone by would be known not because it brought some thing good, but what it left behind for us – the shocking figure of one million suicides with a life ending every 40 seconds followed by 20 suicidal attempts every minute. All this puts a serious question mark over humankind’s existence and putting forth question – where are we heading towards, any idea… The gravity of the problem is palpable form the very fact, which doles out shocking figure of 6,045 suicidal deaths occurred in the UK and Ireland alone in the year of 2005. No doubt, suicide rate has registered fall of over 9.5 percent over the last decade. Still, it gives nothing much worth gloating over, as it is still a leading cause of death for young adults, especially those between the ages 15 to 24. Defining suicide as one of the fast growing trends won’t be wrong, as this so-called trend of suicide is no longer restricted to a few countries, but has turned out to be a global trend, while registering a shocking boom of 60% suicide rates over the last 45 years. Experts have associated suicides with depression and failures rising mainly due to the cutthroat competition of today. Moreover, there was a time when suicide was considered just a problem of developed countries like the US where more than 30,000 suicides are committed each year and 5,000 of these are teenagers. However, in the last few years, it seems to have grasped developing nations like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand… Where suicide graph goes like this: • Bangladesh: The number of suicides increased to 984 per month during 1992-1993 • India: Occupies the second highest rate of suicides in the Region • Indonesia: The number of suicides increased from 112 in 1996 to 146 in 1998 • Sri Lanka: Deaths in the past 15 years estimated up to 106000 — twice the number due to war These evidences are enough to show that how the so-called trend of suicide is even in these developing countries. In the present scenario, it becomes very important to put a check over this so-called trend of suicide, which is possible, to some extent, however, by taking strong measures like: • Reducing access to the means of suicide • Enhancing access to mental disorder’s treatments • Training primary health care workers And above all, by teaching people the lesson of contentment because when they will learn to remain content with what they have, the graph of suicide would automatically come down. Image Source
Iraq war veterans suffering from depression
Soldiers returning home from Iraq are found to be suffering from depression during their first months at home, according to a new study. The ‘adjustment struggle’ was more profound for the National Guard troops and reservists than it was for the active-duty soldiers. According to the study conducted by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, about 42% of the Guard and reserves compared to 20% of active-duty soldiers needed mental health treatment in two screenings. The first testing was immediately after return from Iraq and the second after six months. Problems became more severe in the second screening with rise in interpersonal problems and difficulty in adjusting in home. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that over 88,000 returning soldiers showed signs of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, conflicts in relationship and other problems after six months. To cope with the problem the US army has created a training program called Battlemind that helps soldiers and their families to prepare for the stress of war and what signs of war to watch for. Source:yahoo news Image:ruvr
Cannabis can be used as an anti-depressant, but its over use has reverse effect
A latest study reveals that consumption of cannabis in small amount can be useful sometimes and it helps in reducing depression, but its high doses can prove to be very harmful and it can lead to the polar opposite effect. The study is handled together by McGill University & a research organization allied with the Universite de Montreal points out that cannabis in small quantities mounts the serotonin levels in the brains of lab mice. The reduction of serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that regulates the mental states of a person, results in causing depression. Anti-depression medicines do their job by raising the level of serotonin in the brain. When the amounts of cannabis were raised in the rats, the effect was explained as totally wrong way up, even upsetting. The levels of Serotonin lowered considerably. Francis Bambico, who is the author of the study, mentioned in prepared statement that — We know from anecdotal evidence that (human) smokers of marijuana experience good effects … but they also experience unwanted effects. A number of smokers feel nervousness & they also appears to be quite distressed. But its excessive amount in some conditions can result into depression raising effects, mainly if anyone of you consumes cannabis in large amounts. Depressant People utilizing cannabis as an anti-depressant is quite difficult because it is very hard to manage the quantity when they smoke it as cannabis joints. The research explains that too much consumption of cannabis by the people who have the problem of depression, have greater possibility of having psychosis. Gobbi, who is a psychiatrist by profession, mentioned that she was encouraged to carry out this study after observing a number of her patients who have the problem of depression & they used to do cannabis smoking. But its excessive consumption showed the reverse effects that completely work against the anti-depression effects. Francis Bambico mentioned that – scientists are concentrating their exploration on a new category of medicines that could raise the effects of the endo-cannabinoids — which is a natural material present in the brain and it comes out during extreme pressure or pain, devoid of the anti-depressive side effects. Cannabis shows chemical resemblance with the — endo-cannabinoids. It is quite possible to make medicines that improve endo-cannabinoids for the treatment of pain, nervousness & sadness. The study will appear on 24 Oct 2007 in the Journal of Neuroscience. Image credit Source
Depressed Kids: Time to rethink
Every blessing comes with a price and so is the whopping advancement of human civilization. Today we live in a high tech, highly sophisticated society, where we have everything at our service. Labour saving devices, electronic gadgets, and all other amenities that our ancestors could never have imagined also. So apparently we are living in a happier world. We are having a tech savvy life, that’s all right, but the price we are paying is worth more than this bit of happiness. We are losing our family life, and children are the worst sufferer. A recent survey has proved it and has created great anxiety among parents all over the world. The report revealed that children who spend too much of their times watching television or surfing Internet are greedy and unhappy. The report also says: These children argue more with their families; have a lower opinion of their parents, and lower self-esteem than other children. The problem starts as early as among the students of the primary schools but remain suppressed till they enter their teenage. When the symptoms get prominent, the entire war has been lost. UK has been flooded by terrific teenage drug addiction, drinking, and under age sex problems. Before the matter goes out of control, it is high time we find out the deep rooted cause behind this problem. The main reason is parental negligence. The lifestyle of parents has changed a lot during the years and that has seriously affected the time they share with their family. But the fundamental needs of children have not changed during these years. They still require food, shelter, and sleep. But moreover, they need an adult supervision to grow up. They need to know that there is someone caring for them while they grow up. But here we leave everything to the machines, like electronic baby sitter and in a later stage we depend on the kindergartens to help the kids grow up. But as they grow up, they need more attention and company of their parents, but parents need to rush through their daily life for earning more and more comforts for their families. And, they’re able to achieve it also, but at what cost? This parental carelessness is the prime cause of increasing child depression. But at the same time they also have no option but to rush at break neck speed. They are also confined in some new age troubles like inflation rate, high mortgages, lower quality of living, and long working hours. To survive in this corporate world, they need to follow exactly the same regime everyday, resulting to their isolation from their own family. It is observed in nuclear families today that all members live under same roof, but they are very much isolated by heart. The emotional bond that keeps a family together is vanishing rapidly. Children spend their entire day mostly gazing on TV, or playing games at game station. This is certainly not what we call a life. Sociologists all over the world have expressed deep concerns over this matter. But the solution is quite complex. We just cannot drop our lifestyle all of a sudden. At the same time, if this tendency prevails, then there will be a time when there will be no family at all. Children are having a tuff time these days in a social scenario like this and we need to take care of them. Otherwise the next generation will not be intelligent and bright enough to go forward and bring glory to our country. Source: Dailymail
Bipolar depression has increased 40 folds among young Americans, says report
As per a new study, the teenagers and adults of America, suffering from bipolar disorder have increased in number as compared to the past. Bipolar disorder which is basically a psyche illness is basically characterized by depression and elevated moods for some period. The study was done by Dr. Mark Olfson of Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute. He and his colleagues compared the figures between 1994-1995 and 2002-2003 with respect to one group involving individuals aged 19 and younger, the other comprising of adults aged 30 and above. The statistics reveal that the increase has been manifold. In the younger group, a forty fold increase has been registered. Thankfully, the increase in the older group is just two fold. Also, the reports revealed that the majority of people when found suffering with the disorder are prescribed mood stabilizers, antipsychotic and antidepressants. One basic reason is being speculated for such a ‘gigantic’ increase is the disease is its non-diagnose in children The researchers warn that there is an urgent need of studying the disease to its roots and also making the necessary alterations in the related medicines. It notes, ‘Without independent systematic diagnostic assessments, we cannot confidently select between these competing hypotheses. There is an urgent need.’ Source: Reuters Image credit: Newcastle
Try a bar of chocolate for mood lift!
Chocolate lovers around the world have long associated the consumption of chocolate, manufactured from the simple cocoa bean, with enjoyment and pleasure. However, researchers have found that chocolate has a greater benefit and can make some people — who are prone to depression — less anxious. Chocolate has been thought to interact with a number of the neurotransmitter systems that affect mood. In particular, it is popularly believed that chocolate or carbohydrate cravings correct a deficiency in the neurotransmitter ‘serotonin’, which is in short supply in people who are depressed. Researchers believe it is the endorphins and opoids in chocolate which make people feel more relaxed. Due to the pleasure it offers, chocolate stimulates endorphin secretion thus procuring naturally the same effects as opium. Chocolates release endorphins in the brain that acts as a pain reliever. It will boost your appetite without causing weight gain. It reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. It will make you live longer. Besides sugar in chocolate reduces stress and enables you to have calm and pain relieving effect. On the downside, it is laden with fat and sugar, so of course excess of it is bad. Always choose the chocolates that are from reputed brands. Cheap chocolates are usually low in chocolate solids and high in sugar content and saturated fats. These chocolates can be harmful to your health. While it is too early for doctors to start prescribing chocolate for depression, this study does prove that it has tangible benefits in fighting mood disorders. Via Image1
Is it just headache or knock of depression?
How would you take the pain swirling in your head; merely as a headache or something more? Well, seeing it in the light of a new study you can’t deny that it could be an indication of major depression, inching slowly into your life. During the course of this study, around 177 consecutive adult primary-care patients were brought into the focus for around one year. Interestingly, all these patients were bearing headache, as the main illness. These participants completed a questionnaire, having questions like duration of headache, its severity, changes in headache severity, and other symptoms. Finally, it was concluded that patients with headache, especially with severe headache, were more vulnerable to depression. This fact derives vindication from the fact according to which 25% of the patients with headache were found having major depressive episode. So, what comes out of the study is enough to shovel out an issue of debate, as to how headache should be regarded – merely as a normal pain or something more. Image Source
Winter brings SADness: Light therapy answers it
Are you one of those people who are sad because it’s fall and about to be winter? Then, you are probably down with SAD or Seasonal affective disorder. With the eerie silence of snow falls, comes a season of depression. Christmas isn’t always fun for everyone. The American Academy of Family Physicians reported that about half-million people in the U.S. experience this disorder. This is a very winter specific disorder, which has it’s own symptoms. Loss of energy, appetite, and changes in mood affects the person involved. The ‘Sad’ patients tend to sleep more and eat more junk food mostly sugary grub. The best thing is the condition cures itself with the change of season. I think with the onset of summer months, things get better. It is the difference in the amount of sunlight, that basically is the major cause of SADness. I guess light is energy and when there’s no light, there’s no energy. This is the best way I could explain SAD to myself. Less sunlight combined with the body’s Circadian rhythm. A possible cure for this disorder is the light therapy. Light therapy, ionized-air reception, psychotherapy are just some of the treatments for SAD. Just because SAD is season, please don’t underestimate the disorder. It can be life threatening! Most of these treatments use about 30-60 minutes of your time. If you think you have SAD, don’t wait till the middle of winter. Get help now! Image Credit: Wikipedia