One in six adults in the UK between the ages of 18 and 65 has symptoms of mental illness, the most common being depression. Depression is a common mental disorder that causes people to experience depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feeling of guilt or low self-worth individuals may also experience no appetite, low energy and loss of concentration. Depression is different from a individual feeling down or sad.
A individual who is experiencing depression will experience extreme emotions of hopelessness, negativity, anxiety and helplessness. Unlike feeling down or sad these feeling will stay with the individual instead of going away. Fifty percent of individuals that who have depression will experience it only once. The other fifty percent will experience depression on more than one occasion throughout their lives. -Social work the basics(2012)
The signs and symptoms of depression;
Tiredness and loss of energy.
Sadness that does not go away.
Difficulty concentrating
Not enjoying things that you used to.
Loss of self confidence and self esteem.
Feeling anxious.
Feeling hopeless.
Loss of appetite.
Finding it hard to function at work place.
Loss of sex drive.
Thinking about suicide.
Self harm. (nhs.co.uk/depression)
Depression can happen suddenly or a result of a physical illness of a individual. Experiences in childhood, unemployment, grief or family problems may also make a person become depressed. Chronic illnesses linked to depression include heart disease, back pain and cancer. Pituitary damage a treatable condition which follows head injuries, may also lead to depression.
Some individuals have no clear reason for being depressed as they are unable to pin point the experience that has made this happen. There are several types depressions these include;
Mild depression; Has a small impact on daily lives.
Moderate depression; Has a heavy impact on daily lives.
Severe depression; Makes it almost impossible to get through a day.
References: Bbc.co.uk/wales published 22/01/2013. - accessed 13/12/14. Mark Doel, Social work the basics.Routeleg, Oxen (2012) www.nhs.co.uk - National health service. MIND leaflet.- National association for mental health.©(2013) www.mentalhealth.org - Mental health Charity. Poverty.org.uk- Accessed 13/12/2014. Nursing standards journal,Mental health. RCN publishing company. (2013)