Workplace and Depression

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You may not know it but somebody you know, in or out of the workplace is suffering depression. It is something that is not often brought up in the workplace, for the sufferer will likely feel that they will be outcasted, or frowned upon. This information is to help you understand that a person suffering depression has a genuine medical condition, and will not snap out of it if you tell them to. This information is also aimed at sufferers, giving an insite in to the mental illness they carry.

Introduction

• Clinical depression is more severe than an ordinary sadness that one would feel from time to time
• Depression is one of the most common medical illnesses, affecting about 15% of the population at some stage of their lives
• Depression can be effectively treated in almost all cases.

Depression is one of the most common medical illnesses. About 15% of all Australians will experience an episode of depression at some time in their lives.

Depression is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. With diabetes, the treatment would be insulin; with depression, antidepressants are prescribed to correct this imbalance. There are other treatments that can be useful and they will be explored more in the section on treatments.

Sometimes we hear people casually say, "I'm depressed," when they relate features such as having had a bad day at work/school or a fight with their friends,spouse or other family member. Typically, these kinds of feelings pass or lessen within a short period of time, but Limelight is there to listen. In cases such as these, we are not really "depressed," but it doesn't mean they're not important, we experience normal and temporary feelings of sadness, frustration, or stress. These normal feelings are different than the more extreme and pervasive feelings associated with clinical depression. Depression is common. Up to one in four females and one in six males will experience depression in their lifetime. It is also the main cause of suicide in Australia.

Depression can affect different people in different ways. Common symptoms are:

• A depressed mood that lasts most of the day, nearly every   day
• Loss of interest in things that the person used to find   pleasurable
• Sleep disturbances
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Appetite changes with either gain or loss of weight
• Indecisiveness
• Loss of concentration
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Thoughts of death or suicide

It is of the utmost importance that if you are aware that a person is having thoughts of death or suicide, that you act on this immediately. Encourage them to see their doctor straight away. Offer to take them to see the doctor yourself or make their doctor aware that you are concerned.

There are a number of treatments available for depression. Often a combination of treatments works the most effectively.

Antidepressants
There is a type of medication called antidepressants that is commonly prescribed for depressive conditions. In this category of medication, there is a variety of drugs to choose from. Most of these types of medications work on correcting the imbalance of chemicals in the brain. They work on the "chemical messengers" called neurotransmitters, which send signals from one nerve to another. One of these transmitters is serotonin. Serotonin plays an important part in determining moods. Therefore if there is an imbalance in the amount of serotonin available in the brain then this can affect a person's moods.

It may take several weeks for the symptoms of depression to start to recede; therefore it is very important that the person persist with their medication. Antidepressants are not addictive and can be taken for very long periods of time with rarely any problems.

Antidepressants need to be taken as prescribed to ensure that there is little chance for relapse and most chance for recovery.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or "talk therapy", may be appropriate for depression that requires treatment. It can be helpful either by itself or in combination with other treatment. For some people suffering from mild depression, psychotherapy may be the only treatment needed.

During psychotherapy, the therapist and patient talk about past and present experiences that seem important to the patient. They explore relationships and personal goals that affect the patient's life, and discuss associated thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. One of the most beneficial aspects of psychotherapy is that it provides support to the patient during a very difficult time. Numerous types of psychotherapy are available; not all of them have been proven effective. Some of the more useful ones are those known as supportive, cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal psychotherapies.

Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive or "shock" therapy (ECT) may sound frightening, but is considered by many to be a very effective treatment for severe depression. Contrary to common fears about ECT, it actually causes little stress to the body and is tolerated well by most people, even the elderly. It is administered while the patient is under anaesthesia with muscle relaxation. A new technique called brief-pulse ECT has further improved the procedure.

Relaxation
Learning relaxation techniques can be very helpful in learning to manage stress and having a happier and healthier life. Relaxation can help to affect mood and make life a little easier to cope with.

Exercise
Exercise is very beneficial in the treatment of depression. Regular exercise can help improve the chemical imbalance in the brain but should not take the place of medications that are prescribed by the doctor. Exercise also leads to a healthier life as it improves fitness, strength and general health. Exercise can also help just by getting the person out. Just 20 minutes of exercise 3 or 4 times a week can make a big difference to the outcome of depression.

Stress Management
Stress management is the ability to control stressful situations and the reactions to them. Stress management may include addressing issues such as time management or even financial management. It can involve addressing anything that is considered a 'stressor' in life. Relaxation can also play a part in the management of stress. The objective of stress management is to:

• Decrease overall amount of stress.
• Increase an individual's control over a stressful situation

ref: pfizer - understanding depression