Over the years, it has been evident that many scholars, researchers, and mental health professionals in the psychology field are heavily relying on college/university students when studying mental health conditions. More specifically, a prominent mental condition that has dramatically risen over the years in its prevalence is what most people encounter at least once in their lifetime but the extreme aspects of this disorder causes excruciating emotional pain and is highly debilitating. This disorder is depression. Depression is a disorder on a spectrum and the more extreme the illness is, the higher level of damaging effects it has, incapacitating an individual. Moreover the diagnosis, impact, and effect of depression vary from person to person. Almost everyone feels melancholic and depressed at one point in time due to external factors that they are faced with, but a clinical diagnosis is made when the ‘depressed’ state of mind takes control of one’s life and becomes detrimental to their health. For example, it can take a toll on one’s health and intervene with one’s lifestyle limiting their ability to do several things such as working, interacting with individuals, finding the energy to do things and so forth. According to the DSM IV model, an individual who suffers from major depressive disorder must have symptoms of depression such that they either have a depressed mood or a loss of interest/lack of pleasure in daily activities consistently for at least a period of 2 weeks. This requirement excludes depressed moods caused by substance use such as drugs, alcohol and medications.…
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder with symptoms that greatly affect the life of the individual. MDD could in fact be called a public health crisis, as it is projected that it will soon overtake heart diseases as the major worldwide health concern (Boyd, 2008). Diagnostic criteria for MDD are depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities, present for at least 2 weeks. Findings and behaviors associated with MDD are disruption of sleep, suicidal ideation, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, and fatigue and loss of energy. MDD is also associated with a high impairment in occupational, social, and physical functioning, causing as much disability and distress as chronic medical disorders (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). MDD has been shown to be associated with increased medical illnesses. MDD can make everyday living a challenge, as research shows that depressive symptoms are associated with impaired everyday problem-solving ability directly and indirectly mediated through learning and memory, and reasoning (Yen, Rebok, Gallo, Jones, & Tennstedt, 2011).…
Major depression is a severe, recurrent and disabling mental disorder usually characterized by a constant sense of hopelessness and despair, coupled with low self esteem and a loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities. In the US, 3.4% of people with major depression commit suicide, and roughly 60% of people that commit suicide have some form of depression (Barlow, 2005). It has been proposed that the causes of major depression include biological, psychological and social factors (Santrock, 2007), with most biological theories focusing on serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine, the monoamine chemicals present in the brain that assist communication between nerve cells. There are several forms of treatment for major depression, such as psychotherapy and antidepressants. In people with mild to moderate depression, the effects of antidepressants are very minimal, however they can have significant effects in people with a more severe form (Arif et al, 2012).…
Suicide. Just the mentioning of such a word sends shivers down many people’s spines. While it may be not be spoken about, suicide rates seem to be on the rise, and many are doing everything they can to help. According to Pamela Kulbarsh, a psychiatric nurse for over twenty-five and writer of the article “The Epidemiology of Suicide: Who is most likely to take their life own life?” suicide has been coined “the most preventable death” (7). Suicide prevention and treatment, however, is by no means a new concept.…
Purpose: The purpose of this article was to evaluate if the practices used by Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPCs), part of the Veterans Health Administration, are effective. The study aimed to detect what features the SPCs consider most concerning during their assessment of the veterans, how the SPC prioritize their cases and if the way they assess and prioritize are indeed effective in terms of preventing completed suicide.…
Depression affects almost fifteen million individuals in a given year. Depression often results in emotional and physical destruction of oneself which leads to thoughts of suicide and heart attacks for many individuals. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of despondency and despair for months or even years. A disorder such as depression causes millions to feel unworthy and question their life and purpose in the world. Many ask themselves questions such as, what is the point of even trying if I’m going to fail? The loss of interest in daily activities and the emotional pain of being in a state of gloom for months can be extremely detrimental to ones well-being, physically and mentally. Environmental and sociocultural…
Depression is the most common mental disorder, not only for adults, but for children and teenagers as well. The DSM-IV classifies depression as a mood disorder. It states that an individual has suffered a “major depressive episode” if certain symptoms persist for at least two weeks, including a loss of enjoyment in previously pleasurable activities, a sad or irritable mood, a significant change in weight or appetite, problems sleeping or concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness. These symptoms of depression fall into four categories: mood, cognitive, behavioral, and physical. Depression affects how individuals feel, think, behave, and how their bodies work. People with depression may experience symptoms in any or all of the categories, depending on personal characteristics and the severity of the depression. Although depression is usually first noticed during the teen or early adult years, a person can have an episode of depression at any age. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is estimated to be 2% in children and 6% in adolescents and up to 25% of adults age >60 experience MDD, dysthymic disorder, or “minor” depression. Although diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder is similar among all patients, its symptoms and course may be atypical in children, adolescents, and older adults. Awareness of these varying clinical manifestations can facilitate early recognition and treatment. Although diagnosis and treatment of depression is similar regardless of a patient’s age, younger and older patients may not exhibit typical depressive symptoms.…
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or otherwise known as Major Depression, is a serious mood/mental disorder that drastically affects one’s life resulting in loss of interest, changes in diet, increase in irritability, and drop in mood. Major Depressive Disorder affects about 6.7% of the population of the United States over the age of 18. Although, MDD is common mostly in adults, it also affects teens and children. The main symptom of depression is a described as a sad or gloomy mood that doesn’t seem to go away. Although, some days, people just feel out of sorts, individuals with MDD experience their low feelings over extended periods of time. Although, in some cases, depression seems to follow after a traumatic event in one’s life, most of the time, doctors believe it’s is caused by the chemical imbalance in the brain. People with MDD lose interest in activities they once loved. Their mood becomes more irritable and often feel like they are worthless or failures. Many have trouble sleeping and develop insomnia. In several cases, there have been acts of suicide, suicide attempts, or the act of harming oneself, known as self-harm. Numerous depression treatments are available. Medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) are very effective for most people. A common way to treat people with MDD is to give them antidepressants. Antidepressants work to balance some of the natural chemicals in our brains. It may take several weeks for them to help. Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.…
Assisted suicide is a non-widely known controversy in our country for years now. Many, including professionals in the healthcare industry, confuse this term with euthanasia and other similar concepts. Assisted suicide is when a physically and mentally capable person, most likely diagnosed with a terminal illness, makes a decision to end their lives themselves for reasons such as to not inconvenience their families with financial and emotional difficulty, and to end their own suffering. On the other hand euthanasia is when another person, usually a physician, is directly performing the act on the dying person with or without their consent for emergency reasons. Clearly, the difference is that assisted suicide gives the person the right to die…
Depression is very common in the United States and in teens and young adults now. Statistics claim those aged 18-24 have the highest prevalence of mental disorders of any age group. Many young adult’s depression worsens once they go off to college or it develops. With depression most of the time comes suicidal thoughts or people commit suicide because dealing with depression becomes unbearable to handle. Adding suicide hotlines to college ID’s could help many young adults, not feel like they do not have someone to talk to and can help them get out of that funk. College is supposed to make you feel independent not miserable and lonely.…
A major catalyst of suicide is major depression which in influenced by our cognition of…
This paper will examine the causes of depression, trouble with diagnosis of depression, and the treatment process. Depression can be simple to diagnose, however, this paper will discuss the fact that many people will have more than one disorder that needs to be evaluated and therefore the symptoms of depression may be masked by others. Once all problems are evaluated a thorough treatment plan can be created. Some of the treatment options are pharmacological, therapeutic, and many times spiritual. These different approaches, when integrated together, can allow a person to change their thought process, their behavior and give them freedom from their pain and stress.…
What can we do to help lower the statistics and intervene to keep preventable suicide from happening in our criminal justice system?…
In North America, we are dependant on the idea of the American Dream; good jobs to pay for all our wants and needs. But when our ability to pay for our desires is threatened, some may turn to suicide as an escape from issues we cannot face. In recent years, suicide in North America has been on the rise, with all walks of life affected. From newly unemployed men and women killing themselves after the economic crash of 2008, to young girls killing themselves as a result of being publicly shamed on the internet, it is my belief that while death is not celebrated or encouraged it can be an alternative to failure in North America. Soceity discourages people killing themselves yet to some it is the best option. Suicide, act of one ending their own…
What is major depressive disorder? According to the DSM library, the symptoms of major depressive disorder can include: a depressed mood more often than not (this mood can include hopelessness, emptiness, etc.), diminishes pleasure or interest in daily activity, unintended weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, insomnia or hypersomnia, and thoughts of death. Risk factors for major depressive disorder can include: a neurotic attitude, difficult childhood experiences, genetic from parents, a symptom of another illness like addiction. Major depressive disorder can be treated by medication, psychotherapy, and inpatient. Medication can range from: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine uptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical depressants, tricyclic depressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), etc. Psychotherapy can include discussing current events of the individual or what may have led to the disorder. Inpatient is usually where individuals admit themselves if they are at harm to themselves or others until they are calmer. Creating less stigma can help individuals and a larger audience so there is no fear in talking about their feelings and…