It’s not Mental Health Month, but…
It sure seems like we're hearing a lot lately about mental health. On my drive to work on Monday morning (I always have the dial set to NPR), Steve Inskeep announced a new series on depression. Then, this morning, I found out KCPT will begin a four part series on suicide starting tonight at 7:30. Marcia Epstein (who will also be featured on the show) posted about the program earlier. As the communications specialist for the Bert Nash Center, I'm glad that these topics are being explored in such a public way. It helps combat the negative stigma associated with mental illness.
Many of you remember, from last year, John McClure, the executive chef and owner of Starker’s Restaurant on the Plaza, took his own life. Then around Thanksgiving, Fox 4 meteorologist Don Harmon took his life as well. Both of these men were in the public eye, yet both of these men kept their depression a secret. Perhaps there were warning signs, and perhaps there weren't. Suicide is an awful thing on many levels and for all the many people affected by it.
No one saw it coming... by talktobert
On a positive note, we here at the Bert Nash Center have been training people for the last three years to learn to recognize the warning signs and perhaps save the life of a friend, family member, co-worker, or even a stranger. Our Mental Health First Aid program is a 12-hour course in which participants learn a single 5-step strategy that includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help and other supports. The goal of MHFA is to increase mental health literacy. Participants are also introduced to risk factors and warning signs for mental health or substance use problems, engage in experiential activities that build understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families; and learn information about evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies.
To learn more about the MHFA program or to sign up for an upcoming course, visit our MHFA website. Our MHFA program was also on same program on KCPT as the one on suicide tonight (see video below)!
Please watch or listen to these current programs, and stay safe and healthy out there.
Getting to my happy place?
Getting there by talktobert
Remember those commercials, "Milk: it does a body good"? Well, exercise does my mind good (if you'll pardon the incorrect grammar). After a workout and for the remainder of the day, my mood goes from 'ho-hum, just swell' to supreme confidence and happiness. If I miss a workout, I get a little depressed about myself and think about how that 10 lbs. will never come off and I haven't done anything worthwhile that day - going to bed swearing that I'll get that happy feeling back if I just squeeze in that workout tomorrow. An article in today's NYT tried to explain why - using mice. If you want to get really scientific about it, read the article.
I'll take us a little closer to home to read some statistics that don't involve so much math. In his book, The Depression Cure, KU Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Stephen Ilardi contends that, "researchers have compared aerobic exercise and Zoloft head to head in the treatment of depression. Even at a low “dose” of exercise–thirty minutes of brisk walking three times a week–patients who worked out did just as well as those who took the medication. Strikingly, though, the patients on Zoloft were about three times more likely than exercisers to become depressed again over a ten-month follow-up period."
My problem is this: I'm in such a morning-time funk everyday that I can't or won't get my butt to the gym over my lunch break. Therefore, I can't get to my drug-free happy place. So here's the burning question: do I need Zoloft to get to a place mentally where I finally go to the gym, and therefore cancel out the need for Zoloft in the first place?
Have you heard about Facebook Depression?
Is facebook making teens depressed? by talktobert
USA Today published an article today about the harms that social media websites may have on children, and I would argue, even adults. Here's an excerpt:
"[There is] a new phenomenon called "Facebook depression." Some children who are at risk for social isolation, anxiety or depression seek connection online. If they don't find it, they may become depressed. Their lack of connection in the online world amplifies what's happening in their offline world."
I would have had a really horrible time in junior/high school if facebook had been available back then. I was pretty obsessed with being considered a part of the "it" crowd, and I can only imagine how facebook would have reinforced who was cool and who was not.
This Emotional Life is having an online discussion on April 4th at 4pm about the changing landscape of our relationships both online and off.
Do you have Depression?
Depression is a serious medical condition that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who have depression.
Types of Depression
Depression comes in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. The three main depressive disorders are: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Major depression (or major depressive disorder) is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list below) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. A major depressive episode may occur only once, but it is more common for several episodes to occur in a lifetime. Chronic major depression may require a person to continue treatment indefinitely.
A less severe type of depression, dysthymia (or dysthymic disorder), involves long-lasting symptoms that do not seriously disable, but keep one from functioning well or feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes during their lives.
Another type of depressive illness is bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive illness). Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression), often with periods of normal mood in between. When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of depression. When in the manic cycle, the person may be overactive, over-talkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, an individual in a manic phase may feel elated and full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees.
Symptoms of Depression
Not everyone with a depressive disorder experiences every symptom. The number and severity of symptoms may vary among individuals and also over time. In addition, men and women may experience depression differently. Symptoms of depression include:
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood; Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism; Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness; Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex; Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”; Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions; Trouble sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; Appetite and/or weight changes; Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts; Restlessness, irritability; and Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain, that do not respond to routine treatment
Treatments
The majority of people with depressive disorders improve when they receive appropriate treatment. The first step to getting treatment is a physical examination by a physician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms. Next, the physician should conduct a diagnostic evaluation for depression or refer the patient to a mental health professional for this evaluation.
Treatment choice will depend on the patient’s diagnosis, severity of symptoms, and preference. A variety of treatments, including medications and short-term psychotherapies (i.e., “talking” therapies), have proven effective for depression. In general, severe depressive illnesses, particularly those that are recurrent, will require a combination of treatments for the best outcome. It usually takes a few weeks of treatment before the full therapeutic effect occurs. Once the person is feeling better, treatment may need to be continued for several months-and in some cases, indefinitely-to prevent a relapse.
