Starting today, we are going to bring to you our “Depression Essential Series” that answers all of your questions about depression. This series is composed of multiple coherent, and progressive articles to complete your picture of “What is depression?!”
In this series, you’ll find information that will help you to understand the basics of depression. For example, “What is the average age of onset of depression?”, “I am feeling bad, am I depressed?”, “What causes depression really?”, and “I have a friend who’s depressed, how can I help?”
Without further ado, fellow students, lesson 1 begins.
Stepping out of bed. It’s easy to take for granted. You work, eat, play, sleep, and get out of bed the next morning. Seems simple. But if you’re one of 1 of 25 million individuals in the United States living with major depression [1], sleep isn’t always so easy. Neither is navigating your daily life, or having the ability to enjoy time out with friends, make simple decisions, enjoy hobbies or go to work.
Depression is More Common than You Think
According to the WHO (2016), an estimated 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression around the world [3]. Globally, major depression is the leading cause of disability. While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32 [4]. As many as 1 in 33 children and 1 in 8 adolescents have clinical depression [5].
When can Depression Happen?
Depression can happen at any time in a person’s life. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “the peak period of development is between the ages of 25 and 44 years; onset most often occurs in the mid-20s.” [7]
In our next lesson from CandleX Classroom, we’d elaborate on the depression symptoms.
How Long can Depression Last?
This is when they experience many of the symptoms of depression for 2 weeks or more. The American Journal of Psychiatry has found that a depressive episode can last up to 6 months, and that “between 50% and 85% of people who experience 1 major depressive episode will experience another in the future” [8]. Not everybody experiences depression for the same amount of time, or the same number of times, so it is important to be understanding when a person is going through cycles of episodes in depression.
It is important to realize how common depression is so that we can get rid of the stigma towards it.
Now that we have taken the first step in learning about depression, in the next CandleX Classroom lesson, we will look at what it feels like to have depression – its symptoms.
You can always come back to our library by clicking on “Learning-Classroom”,or go to our website for the archives under ”Columns-Classroom”.
References
Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Among Adults. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/serious-mental-illness-smi-among-us-adults.shtml
http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic#1
WHO Depression Fact Sheet.http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/
U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates byDemographic Characteristics, 2005
Center for Mental Health Services, U.S. Dept. ofHealth and Human Services, 1996
MayoClinic, 2013 http://i1.wp.com/knowingneurons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/depression_k3.png
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic andStatistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision. Washington,DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
Mueller TI, Leon AC, Keller MB, et al.Recurrence after recovery from major depressive disorder during 15 years ofobservational follow-up. Am J Psychiatry. 1999;156:1000-1006.