Depression can be a serious illness and it is much more than just feeling “blue” for a few days. Depression involves feeling “hopeless” or “down” for weeks at a time. Symptoms of depression include feeling guilty, worthless, losing interest or pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed, or having thoughts about ending one’s life.

Many types of depression exist including major depressive disorder, dysthymia (chronic depression), and bipolar disorder. Together, these are categorized as mood disorders.

Causes of depression may include chemical imbalances in the brain or body; behaviors that are taught or learned; genetics; and traumatic events, loss, or stress. Often, individuals with depression will begin using mind-altering substances to relieve their sadness, or will develop anxiety that disrupts their lives.

Things that help prevent or reduce depression include positive social and emotional support, access to counseling or other types of medical care, and learning new skills to help cope with the difficulties of life. Depression is very treatable.

• · Approximately 10% of Americans have some form of depression during any single year.
• · Depression is the leading cause of disability for Americans ages 15-44, and by 2020 will be the single leading cause of disease-burden around the world.
• · People with depression often say they have several days each month feeling as though they are in “poor mental health”.
• · In 2005, in Washtenaw County, 10% of adults surveyed through the Health Improvement Plan of Washtenaw County said they had ten or more poor mental health days in the past month (PMHDPM). And, those who said they were either “dissatisfied or very dissatisfied” with life, have a disability, served in the military, or drink a lot of alcohol at one time were also most likely to have ten or more PMHDPM.

Two local resources

Prevention and Community Response Services, a unit of Washtenaw County Public Health, provides mental health services to increase psychological well-being of individuals, groups, and organizations. Services include psychological crisis intervention and referral following trauma or disaster events, trainings, materials development, and consultation in areas such as Critical Incident Stress Management. Call 734-544-6700 or visit http://publichealth.ewashtenaw.org

Michigan Prevents Prodromal Progression (M3P), a local treatment research program serving individuals in Washtenaw County, provides confidential mental health assessment and early help for young people between 12 and 25 years of age who are at risk for mental illnesses. By getting help early, a person’s chances for staying in school, working, maintaining friendships, and planning for the future greatly improve.

The M3P Program provides education and treatment for young people and their families and conducts research about the effects of early identification in off-setting the progression of mental illness. Visit www.preventmentalillnessmi.org or call 734-434-2630