- Increased risk for substance misuse and suicide
- People experiencing depression are at increased risk for substance misuse and suicide. Depression can coexist with other conditions, most frequently substance use disorder and anxiety disorders.
- Importance of treatment
- If untreated, depression can interfere with work, school, relationships, physical health, and overall quality of life. However, those who are diagnosed early and adhere to treatment plans are often able to feel better or recover completely.
- Depict the realities of depression
- Depression is more than everyday sadness — and for people living with clinical depression, it can be frustrating when friends or family don’t understand that. Look for opportunities to show what depression really is, how it impacts people, and how it can be effectively managed.
Storytelling Tips
Portray a Range of Mental Health Experiences
- Look for opportunities to show what distinguishes clinical depression from everyday sad feelings.
- For people living with depression, it can be frustrating when friends, family members and coworkers don’t understand how their struggles differ from general sadness or occasional bouts of “feeling down.”
Diversify Representation
- Create more inclusive stories about mental health, particularly for communities who are at higher risk for mental health challenges.
- For example, Latinos and Black individuals are at higher risk for depression, but their stories are less visible. They are also less likely to seek help than white people.
- A ViacomCBS & Well Being Trust survey found that people were more likely to engage with mental health messaging, share it, and follow prompts to watch videos or visit websites if the message was delivered by someone who looked like them.
Spotlight Support From Family and Friends
- Portray the process of getting help and the therapeutic process, which may increase a viewer’s willingness to seek help themselves.
- Some people who are struggling with depression may not reach out for help because they are skeptical about mental health services, don’t think therapy or treatment will work for them, or don’t believe they have access to those services.
Snapshot
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is more than just everyday sadness or going through a difficult time. It’s a mood disorder that is diagnosed when a person experiences symptoms that include a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure for at least two weeks.
If untreated, depression can interfere with work, school, relationships, physical health, and overall quality of life. Many people who are diagnosed early and adhere to a treatment plan, which may include therapy, medication, self-care, and lifestyle changes regarding diet, exercise, sleep, and other aspects of everyday life, are able to feel better or recover completely.
Like most mental health challenges, the causes of depression can be a variety of intersecting factors, including genetics, upbringing, life experiences, trauma, other medical conditions, and other circumstances.
People experiencing depression are at increased risk for substance misuse and suicide compared to people without depression. Depression can also coexist with other conditions, most frequently substance use disorder and anxiety disorders.
Types of Depression
- Major depression is the most common form of depression and involves having symptoms of depression most of the day, almost every day, that interfere with one’s ability to work, sleep, study, or enjoy life for at least two weeks.
- Persistent depressive disorder (or dysthymia) refers to a low mood that has lasted at least two years. These symptoms may never reach the level of major depression.
- Bipolar depression (formerly called manic depression) involves extreme shifts in mood that include emotional highs called mania and low periods of depression.
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that usually starts in the late fall and early winter and goes away during the spring and summer.
- Perinatal depression: Women experiencing perinatal depression go through a period of major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression).
Symptoms & Warning Signs
- Persistently sad, anxious, irritable, or empty mood
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Fatigue and decreased energy
- Significant change in appetite and/or weight
- Overreaction to criticisms
- Feeling unable to meet expectations
- Difficulty concentrating, focusing, remembering details, and making decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
- Persistent physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive problems, or chronic pain that do not respond to routine treatment
- Substance abuse problems
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
Treatment Options
- Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, and interpersonal therapy
- Medications, including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications
- Brain stimulation therapies can be tried if psychotherapy and/or medication are not effective. These include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for severe depressive disorder that is treatment resistant or transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for severe depression.
- Light therapy, which uses a light box to expose a person to full-spectrum light in an effort to regulate the hormone melatonin
- Self-Care and Wellness practices including acupuncture, meditation, faith, exercise, and nutrition can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Need more guidance on depicting depression?