Depression is the most common disturbance of mood. It is an illness in which the sense of sadness is all pervasive, and there is a constant presence of hopelessness. Feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy and incompetence hound the person who is depressed. Depression affects people from all cultures, classes and ages. Depression is a global issue, being the fourth leading cause of disability and premature death in the world, yet 90 % of those experiencing depression never seek treatment.  Some major factors in depression include: 

•    Youth (ages 18-24)
•    Loss of job
•    Loss of relationship/marital breakdown
•    Traumatic events (child sexual abuse, rape, violence)
•    Family history of mood disorders or addictions
•    Moving
•    Family problems
•    Chronic stressors (poverty, unemployment, illness)    
 

Activities and interests, once pleasurable and stimulating, become stale. Depressed persons isolate themselves by withdrawing from their friends and family members. Work habits may deteriorate and the depressed person is often very fatigued.  With depression there may be indecisiveness and slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating and poor memory. People with depression may feel sad and unhappy deep down. Pessimism and negativity are also common feelings for someone who is depressed. The depressed person may not have a clear understanding of why they are depressed, what to do about it and how they are acting. As well as mental and emotional symptoms, a person with depression may experience some common physical symptoms. The physical indications of depression may include:

•    Reduced appetite
•    Talking and moving slowly and as little as possible
•    Difficulty sleeping or waking up and not being able to return to sleep
•    Headaches and body pain
•    Increased risk of heart disease and magnification of cardiac problems
•    Reduced sex drive

 

While there are common symptoms of depression, not everyone will experience the same ones. There are differences in depression among different groups of people. Women, children and youth, the elderly, Aboriginal people, offenders, immigrants and the homeless are more vulnerable to being diagnosed with depression and other mood disorders. Men and women too, while experiencing the same symptoms report their symptoms differently. Both are experiencing depression but men will identify more with anger and irritability while a woman may identify more with sadness and guilt.

In children and youth the symptoms one sees may be an indicator of a short term struggle, an invalidating home situation and/or clinical depression. While all three reasons for a child or youth’s ‘bad mood’ are valid, if the mood continues for two weeks or more then depression may be the diagnosis. In the elderly there are often medications and other physical health issues that contribute to the elder’s mood and a diagnosis of depression may be missed.  For Aboriginal peoples the statistics are disturbing.



According to Health Canada’s First Nations Aboriginal Health information, we see a suicide rate for Aboriginal youth that is five to six times the non-Aboriginal rate. For First Nations males the suicide rate is 126 per 100 000, and for First Nations females the rate is 35 per 100 000. For non-Aboriginal males the suicide rate is 24 per 100 000 and for women it is only five per 100 000, a startling contrast to Aboriginal rates . Aboriginal women and children face more abuse and women may turn to alcohol and drug abuse, and neglect their household, their children and themselves, a pattern that is trans-generational. When women do leave unhealthy situations there is little support and resources and the woman may be harassed rather than helped.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada. Quick Facts: Mental illness and Addiction in Canada, Second Edition, 2007.
Depression in the Elderly, Mood Disorders Society of Canada, Updated May 15, 2008, Friday August 29, 2008