MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ABOUT DEPRESSION

-- IS DEPRESSION A MENTAL ILLNESS?
Depression is a serious, but treatable, mental illness. it is a medical problem, not a personal weakness. Depression is also very common, affecting 10% of America's population at any given time. Everyone at one point or another feels sadness as a reaction to grief, loss, etc., but major depressive disorder is a serious medical disorder which requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

--DO CHILDREN GET DEPRESSION?
Yes. Children are affected by the same factors which cause depression in adults. These can include: life events, heredity, environment and chemical disturbance in the brain. Depression in children differs from "normal" and the everyday emotions that children experience. Children who are depressed show persistent change in their behavior that disrupts their relationships with friends, schoolwork, family life and hobbies.

--CAN A LACK OF SLEEP CAUSE DEPRESSION?
No. A lack of sleep which results from some other medical illness or the presence of personal problems can intensify depression. A CHRONIC inability to sleep can be an important clue that someone might be depressed.

--WILL SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD DEPRESSION GET IT AGAIN?
Having one episode of depression increases the risk of having another episode. Depression is an illness which affects people over many years, and requires long periods of treatment. Some people may seem to recover but then relapse. Treatment can prevent this from happening. HOWEVER, this means that sometimes a person may feel well, but still needs to take medication to prevent symptoms from reappearing.

IF YOU, A LOVED ONE, OR A FRIEND ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, GET PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY. FOR SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, ONE ON ONE ADVOCACY, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, PLEASE CALL THE HIDDEN DISABILITIES MINISTRY AT 547-4692 OR 421-2597 AND ASK FOR MARYLOU. THERE IS HELP AND GUIDANCE TO HELP NAVIGATE THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE!

IN CHRIST,
MARYLOU