What is depression?
Depression, also known as clinical depression or major depression, is a mood disorder. Depression is more than feeling "blue" or "down"; it is experiencing feelings of great sadness over an extended period of time. The main features of depression are a severely low mood and a loss of interest and pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed, for most of the day, almost every day, for at least two weeks. In children and youth, a depressed mood may be replaced by an irritable mood, so youth may appear oppositional, easily frustrated, or angry. This can make depression difficult to recognize in youth.
The symptoms (note: you do not need all of these for a diagnosis) of depression include:
Depression warrants professional support when it begins interfering with different areas of one's life (e.g., school, family, friends, work, or connecting to the community):
Does Depression Get Better?
Yes, things can get better. The Mood Disorders Society of Canada reports that 80% of people respond well to treatment for depression. Unfortunately, about 90% of people never seek treatment for their depression, even though a lot of their suffering could be alleviated.
Should I get a Physical Exam?
It is important to rule out medical causes of depression as depression can mimic some a large number of medical conditions, including hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, autoimmune disorders, anemia, or dietary disorders.
Resources for Depression
Depression, also known as clinical depression or major depression, is a mood disorder. Depression is more than feeling "blue" or "down"; it is experiencing feelings of great sadness over an extended period of time. The main features of depression are a severely low mood and a loss of interest and pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed, for most of the day, almost every day, for at least two weeks. In children and youth, a depressed mood may be replaced by an irritable mood, so youth may appear oppositional, easily frustrated, or angry. This can make depression difficult to recognize in youth.
The symptoms (note: you do not need all of these for a diagnosis) of depression include:
- Feeling sad throughout the day, nearly everyday (may appear tearful)
- Feeling worthless, helpless, hopeless
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Change in appetite or weight (+ or -)
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Loss of interest in or enjoyment from activities one used to enjoy
- Avoiding others
- Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
- Thoughts of death or suicide (click here for more information on suicide prevention)
- Feelings of irritability
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Aches and pains (such as headaches, stomach pain, joint pain, or other pains)
- Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down
Depression warrants professional support when it begins interfering with different areas of one's life (e.g., school, family, friends, work, or connecting to the community):
- At home, you may become more withdrawn, quite, or angry.
- At school, your grades or schoolwork may suffer, you might start missing classes, or you may become argumentative in the classroom.
- In regards to peer relationships, you might stop or reduce spending time with your friends, stop engaging in extracurricular activities, and spend more time on the computer.
Does Depression Get Better?
Yes, things can get better. The Mood Disorders Society of Canada reports that 80% of people respond well to treatment for depression. Unfortunately, about 90% of people never seek treatment for their depression, even though a lot of their suffering could be alleviated.
Should I get a Physical Exam?
It is important to rule out medical causes of depression as depression can mimic some a large number of medical conditions, including hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, autoimmune disorders, anemia, or dietary disorders.
Resources for Depression
- Skills workbook for depression. This workbook was created through the collaboration of Simon Fraser University and BC Mental Health Services and Addiction. It provides self-help strategies to manage depression.
- Adult workbook: Antidepressant Skills Workbook
- Youth workbook: Antidepressant Skills for Teens
- Interactive skills workbook for depression: the MoodGYM training program teaches cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) skills for depression.
- Here to Help BC provides info sheets and personal stories about depression. They also provide tips and self-tests to help you understand a number of different mental health problems.
- Mood Disorders Association of BC provides resources and information on mood disorders as well as information on support groups around BC.
- Mood Disorders Society of Canada provides advocacy, resources, and information on mood disorders. They also work to raise awareness about mood disorders and run numerous anti-stigma campaigns.
- Defeat Depression provides information and works to reduce stigma for people impacted by depression or other mood disorders.
- Canadian Mental Health Association provides information and links to community resources for all mental health issues.
- MindCheck is a great resource for youth struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. It is a website designed for youth.
- Teen Mental Health provides youth friendly information on a variety of mental health issues as well as resources for parents. They offer a number of great resources, reports, and publications free of charge.
