National Depression Screening Day: Depression 101 with Dr. Falk

Today, October 8, is National Depression Screening Day. Dr. Neil Falk, Cascadia’s Program Medical Director is providing a quick introduction to depression.

Clinical depression affects at least 10% of US adults every year (disproportionally affecting women and Black and Latinx Americans), and at least 21% of Americans during their lifetime, however only about 30% of people with clinical depression seek treatment.

Being the leading cause of disability in the US for individuals 15-44 years old, the impact of clinical depression costs the US economy over $210 billion per year and can be deadly, leading to suicide attempts or the neglect of physical health issues. In 2018 alone, suicide led to over 48,000 deaths in the US, which is two and a half times more death than caused by homicide.

What We Can Do

Depression is highly responsive to treatment, with 80% of people showing improvement within four to six weeks. Mental Health America’s (MHA) Depression Screening can provide a quick and easy way for people, especially those who might not otherwise seek professional medical advice, to spot the first signs of depression. It is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with a doctor or loved one.

You can also lookout for signs of depression in your friends and loved ones. Common depression symptoms include:

• Sadness
• Loss of interest in activities
• Social withdrawal
• Appetite increase/decrease with weight gain/loss
• Increased/decreased sleep
• Decrease in attention to hygiene
• Physical slowing/low energy
• Physical pain
• Difficulty concentrating/poor memory
• Feeling helpless/hopeless/worthless
• Thoughts of suicide

How to help someone with depression ​​​​​​​

• Encourage them to talk about it, and to consider seeking professional help, if appropriate.
• Encourage daily physical activity. 30 minutes of low impact activity every day, such as walking, can significantly improve mood.
• Help them to stop using alcohol or other substances. This can help restore the brain’s natural ability to fight depression.
• Don’t fear talking about suicidal thoughts. Talking about it does not increase the risk of a suicide attempt, and can help keep the person safe.