One of the most common psychiatric disorders people encounter is depression. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that 6.7 percent of the U.S. adult population, or 15 million people, were diagnosed with major depressive disorder within a year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study that concluded that nearly one out of every ten Americans have some form of depression (Lerner and Lerner). The same report from the National Institutes of Health that claimed 6.7 percent of the U.S. adult population had experienced depression also revealed that more women (8.2 percent) than men (4.8 percent) were afflicted with depression. Furthermore, the report also stated that …show more content…
Antidepressants are one way people can contest depression. All antidepressants work by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. This may be so, however antidepressants work differently and achieve different effects depending on the chemical composition of the antidepressant, which determines which neurotransmitter is affected. There are many types of antidepressants, including tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some side effects of depressant relieving drugs can cause heart problems, weight problems, and even raise the risk of suicide in adolescents. Antidepressants are not the only way to relieve depression. Diet, exercise, and psychotherapy can also help alleviate depression. However, not all people can have or attain access to antidepressants. Suicide is a deadly effect of depression. This may be so, however it is possible to prevent this deadly effect. There are many strategies that have been conceived to help prevent a person from committing suicide. Identifying certain signs suicidal people give and intervening before behaviors escalate is one strategy that health professionals have formulated, Outward expressions of depression and suicidal thoughts are some of the most common signs that a person is thinking of, or is going to, commit suicide. However, not all people …show more content…
It is possible to treat depression through the means of antidepressants, diet, exercise, and psychotherapy. Depression affects many people and is a widespread problem. It is not only a problem for the United States, but it is a problem throughout the entire world. Suicide rates are increasing and more strategies are being formulated to prevent the rate from continuing to rise, however the strategies are ineffective if there are no people to implement them. Depression rates are also steadily rising, As previously mentioned, the study conducted by the National Institutes of Health showed that around fifteen million U.S. adults older than eighteen (6.7 percent) had suffered from depression at least once within the previous year. The symptoms of depression such as sadness, difficulty sleeping, inability to concentrate, headaches, stomach aches, loss of appetite, restlessness, and others are common symptoms of depression that are easily dismissed as common behavior. Depression is a dangerous illness that can result in death, but all forms of depression are receptive to