Depression Blog

Believe it or not but it is true that girls are more vulnerable to depression than boys. Interestingly, this fact has been found more convincible when it comes to their interpersonal relations. Before hurling this conclusion, Benjamin L. Hankin, assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina, and other researchers studied 538, 8th and 10th grade students, aged 13 to 18 (average age: 14.9), from 18 Chicago area schools.

Where I take this revelation as a major finding at the same time take it as a serious indication too because in my opinion if girls are more vulnerable to depression then somewhere it also shows that when these girls turn into women at that time too their vulnerability to stress and depression is likely to remain higher.

Image credit: Depression blog

Via: New Kerala

In the recent years, suicide rate among kids has rocketed startlingly, as per the report transpired by CDC. This is definitely a matter of serious concern. In this regard Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor, observers, ‘This is very disturbing news.’ Before we go ahead with this issue, here is a wrap up of the main points that came to the fore through this investigation:-

1. The suicide rate climbed 18% from 2003 to 2004 for Americans under age 20.

2. Most suicides occurred in older teens.

3. The suicide rate among 15- to 19-year-olds fell in previous years from 11 per 100,000 in 1990 to 7.3 per 100,000 in 2003.

4. Suicides were the main cause of death that increased for children through age 19 from 2003-04.

5. During this period, use of antidepressant among children came down.

The above fact raises a question that - Can this much of rise in suicide cases among kids be attributed to the decreased use of antidepressants? But while mulling over this issue, we can also not keep a blind eye to previous studies, focusing on the same issue, which have expounded the view that taking antidepressants to fight depression may worsen the situation. At the same time, some studies have gone to the extent associating antidepressants with suicidal behaviors. Here is a look:-

1. Children and teens at increased risk for suicide with antidepressants, says FDA.

2. Antidepressants may worsen the condition.

3. Antidepressants a Suicide Risk for Young Adults.

4. Antidepressants and suicide.

5. Adults’ antidepressant bone risk.

6. Antidepressants Increase Suicide Risks?

Interestingly, there is no privation of such claims too that have dubbed antidepressants as a potent weapon against mental disorder, especially depression. Here is a brief look:-

1. Study: Benefits of Antidepressants Outweigh Risks

2. Who benefits from antidepressants?

3. Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for children and adolescents

4. Antidepressants: advantages in the management of depression.

The main purpose behind pulling out these paradoxical studies is to bring before the readers the point that studies conducted on the association of antidepressants and suicide have just nourished the Gordian knot further. Perhaps that is the reason why CDC’s Dr. Alexander Crosby avers:

It’s something that we want to look a little bit closer into... It’s probably too early to say” if declining use of antidepressants had anything to do with it.

Still, it would not be wrong to say that the main issue, which has come to the surface through this study i.e. ’suicide rate among kids is on the rise’, is definitely obfuscating that cries for deeper study.

Image credit: corvinae.blogs.sapo

Via: USA Today

At least a third of UK residents stoop to alcohol drinking in order to beat high stress levels. This fact has been drawn out through a new survey conducted by emotional support charity Samaritans. Main things, which came out during this survey are as following:-

1. 32 per cent of Britons say they drink to feel less stressed.

2. The worst offending age group is 25-to-34-year-olds.

3. Younger people usually prefer watching television or listening music to de-stress.

4. Almost a fifth of people aged between 16 and 24 admit to feeling suicidal.

5. 50 per cent of Britons are stressed out. At least a third of UK residents admit to resorting to alcohol in order to beat high stress levels, a new survey says.

Apparently, two meanings can be derived from these facts. On one hand, where these facts show that susceptibility of Britons to depression is increasing at the same time number of people with alcohol consumption is also mounting and both these things points to a serious threat lying ahead for Britons. Because where depression leads to several psychological as well as physical disorders at the same, time irrational alcohol consumption, also give way for several ailments.

Via: In the news

GP or general practitioner is still the first choice when it comes to seeking help for depression. This fact came to the fore through a new poll organized by irishhealth.com. Another facts, which came out brightly through this poll were as under:-

1. 14% said that they won’t seek help for treating their depression.

2. 12% preferred to consult counselors.

3. Just 3 % of the people showed interest in contacting support groups for seeking help for their depression.

4. 27% of the people said that they would prefer their friends for help during depression.

5. While a big percentage of 44% showed interest in going to GP for seeking help.

On the basis of these figures, it can definitely be asserted that still, GPs are taken as the first priority by a big number of depression patients, which means still they are looked at as the most efficient helpers for depression treatment. These figures confirm the fact that GPs have a big responsibility to shoulder. Keeping these figures and beliefs in mind, we can say that there is need of these GPs to be trained in such a way so that they may impart depression patients with effective treatment, which would help embanking the spate of depression in which whole world is delving slowly but steadily.

Via: Irish Health

In an eye-opening revelation, a Norwegian study has revealed that people with low blood pressure are more likely to face depression. Telling more clearly about the whole issue the same study further states that people with low blood pressure suffered from anxiety issues or depression more frequently when compared to people with normal blood pressure.

No doubt, this is not the first study, which has tried to associate low blood pressure with depression since several studies earlier too have done the same thing. However, we can’t deny that once again through this study this matter has been brought to the light, which emphasizes that in order to keep depression at bay it is important to keep blood pressure at normal level.

Image credit: High-blood-pressure

Via: Earth Times

The clouds of dispute are hovering over antidepressants as a new study has come out tying them to higher bone fracture risk. Researchers reached this idea after studying about 5,008 people who were in their 50s or over that age. Vindicating the findings researchers claim that they have found strong evidences to prove this notion.

However, we can also not spurn away the facts according to which Antidepressants have been linked to lower blood pressure and dizziness, which adds to falling chances, thus increases bone fracture risk. Moreover, depression has also been linked to low bone density. All such points impel to rethink that is increased bone fracture risk due to antidepressants or because of depression.

However, such claims seem to be failing while trying to refute this study because previous studies have also linked antidepressants to low bone density. Moving ahead with alike view Goltzman and colleagues said, ‘Research in animals suggests that the pill might have a direct effect on bone cells, decreasing bone strength and size.’

Really, this serious matter begs for further investigation since millions of people round the world use such antidepressants and if we see the whole issue in the light of these new findings then we can’t deny that such people are vulnerable to bone fractures.

Image credit: CBC

Via: Topix

In the recent few years child abuse has seen a sudden hike, which confirms the fact that their vulnerability to psychological as well as psychological disorders has mounted fast. I strongly believe that this fast galloping trend should be bridled as soon as possible and for that, parents will have to make a good beginning. Therefore, it becomes requisite to know is their children being abused or not and to know that following tips may definitely help you.

1. Unexciting behavior.

2. Poor concentration and a sense of fear.

3. Reluctance in taking to anybody.

4. Avoiding the home or abuser.

5. Lack of enthusiasm in every sphere.

6. Strange kind of fear or uncertain behavior.

So, if you find any of these symptoms then try to go deeper into it in order to churn out the truth.

Image credit: Calgaryandareacfsa

Via: Yahoo

This analysis pegged down by a Canadian study seems quite plausible as often it has been found that women take disjunction in marital relation as a serious blow and on that basis, it could be asserted that this help depression intruding into their lives quite easily and in order to get away from this such women stoop towards alcohol drinking, which further exacerbates their condition.

It is also noticeable that women who never got married or whose married life was sailing on smoothly, their vulnerability to depression was comparatively lower, which somehow vindicate the notion brought out in the above mentioned analysis.

I strongly believe that after the rise of disjunction in marital relationship, a strange kind of loneliness creeps into women’s lives and this fact can also not be denied that they mostly fail to permeate into this loneliness, which higher ups their vulnerability to depression.

I think that the wet blanket of depression can be kept aside if the women think of the aftermaths of the divorce before going for it.

Image credit: Hnfs

Via: Earth Times

Those who incur maltreatment as a child, their chances of embracing all sort of diseases are comparatively higher, Dr. Andrea Danese and other researchers at King’s College London have come out unwrapping this fact.

We should not forget that studies conducted earlier have also come out with similar findings as child-abuse gives rise to depression in adult age, etc. In the recent years a hike in child-abuse cases has been reported and on that base it could be asserted that a major number of innocent kids are being drove away to a stage where they find themselves in the arms of several mental as well as physical disorders.

Therefore, government institutions, NGOs as well as all of us should come forward and join hands to eradicate child abuse and educate people of its long lasting implications.

Image credit: May Fair

Via: Earth Times

All we know is that depression has emerged as a common health problem in the recent years and more unfortunate is the fact that workers or employees have also been encompassed in this tide, which experts believe is bound to have a bad impact on world economy. Before going further let’s have a close look at the figures so that we may have a better idea of the whole situation.

1. Workers between the ages of 25 to 64 are more afflicted with depression.
2. Workers in sales or in white-collar jobs are more vulnerable to depression than blue-collar workers.
3. Most of the workers don’t accept easily that they are depressed.
4. American employees take around three million days off work every year due to untreated depression.
5. Just in the year 2000, companies in the U.S. had to bear the loss of about $54 billion due to untreated depression of employees.
6. Over 300,000 people in Ireland experience a depressive illness at some point in their life, with an estimated one in 14 workers affected.
7. According to an estimate, about 1.8 to 3.6 percent of the workers in the U.S. labor force suffer from major depression.

We all know that depression leads not only to mental disorders but to several physical problems too. In addition, more deplorable is the fact that it puts a bad impact on our world economy too. I strongly believe that depression is no longer an individual but a social as well as an economic problem. Therefore, employers will also have to come forward to make sure that the seeds of depression may not sprout in their employees because it is neither good for employees nor for employers. Here question arises that what should be done to tackle this depression in employees but before that, I think it is important to find out the exact reason behind it, which is fast spreading its tentacles and the irony is that it’s invisible.

There are multiple factors contributing towards this scourge, including mainly long working hours, same time routine, and constant work pressure.

Is there any solution?

I think if working style is tailored in a way to create congenial working atmosphere, it would automatically make employees love their jobs and would create a lot of difference. Secondly, some motivating factor should be there in the working places so that employees may get more and more encouragement to go further with doubled energy and enthusiasm. Thirdly, the implementation of very strict rules and regulations should be avoided so that employees may not feel themselves under the yoke of suppression. Fourthly, but most importantly there should be a provision of medical counseling if any employee find some symptoms of depression in his or herself.

Image credit: Irish Health

Via: CBC