DEPRESSION: A RIDER OF SUICIDE

Mental health cannot be neglected when discussing the health status of an individual. A person’s physical and cognitive activities are products of his mental state.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a mental or mood condition that results in insistent feelings of sadness and self-withdrawal. Depression is associated with an alteration in the region of the brain that controls mood. Sometimes, it is referred to as depressive disorder or clinical depression (dysthymia).

RISK FACTORS OF DEPRESSION

The era of depression is attributed to some risk factors such as:Negative life experience

Genetic build up

Emotional manipulation

Domestic violence

Abuse and a lot more.

THE IMPACT OF DEPRESSION

Depression has a great negative impact on the individual experiencing it:

They experience frequent mood swings because of alteration between nerve circuits.

It tempers with the way they behave, feel and think and can cause emotional and physical problems.

The individual finds it difficult to carry out daily activities and thereby becoming less productive at work.

It can sometimes result in the feeling of a sense of worthlessness, hopelessness and self-isolation which could lead to suicide.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

Depression varies importantly among different people, depending on the obvious symptoms the person is exhibiting. Depression can last for two weeks or even more depending on how early the individual noticed it and soughthelp. The following are the symptoms of depression that are common among persons experiencing it at a particular period.

Recurrent thinking of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or may even commit suicide

Unshakable feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness

Mental fatigue (slow in thinking and speaking)

Difficulty in comprehension and remembering things 

 Inability to sleep (Insomnia) and uncontrollable sleep

Loss of appetite or craving for food

Feeling guilty about a particular event

Life stagnation: no improvement or no progress

Get distracted easily: Difficulty in concentration

 Experiencing fear and lack of self confidence

Always confused and absent minded

Sense of restlessness, agitation and anxiety

Difficulty in carrying out task like taking long time to accomplish a small task

Sense of emptiness, tearfulness and sadness

Not finding pleasure in all normal activities such as sport, hobbies, playing and catching fun etc.

LINK BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young individuals. Suicidal thoughts are enveloped by painful emotional manipulation; it makes people perceive death as the only option, forgetting the fact that committing suicide is never the best solution to depression but a negative solution. People who had this thought, who did not actualize it were later glad they did not. Although not all individuals who suffered from depression commit suicide but, many people who died of preventable death as a result of depression could have been helped despite the thin line between depression and suicide.

The increasing number of suicide in the world can be traced to depression in that; the percentage of suicide caused by depression is higher than those that are not depression induced.

The chance of death by suicide is due to the severity of the depression. The final outcome of untreated depression or relapse depression is suicide.  The best way out of depression is to confide in a friend and open up so as to get a timely help. Although suicide is often blind to its possibility, there are signs to watch out for: 

Frequently talking about wanting to die

Experiencing severe depression and mental disorder

Increased social withdrawal

Poor hygienic nature

Dispatching away tangible properties and making other arrangement for death

Having mood swing 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Regular hosting of radio programs focusing on how to handle depression should be encouraged

Individuals should take courageous steps to handle stress in such a way that will enhance their self-confidence and increase flexibility.

When confronted with episode of depression or crisis of depression, try and reach out to families and friends for help.

Seek help and treatment early to avoid relapse of symptoms, long-term maintenance treatment should be encouraged  

CONCLUSION

Depression can occur in all ages of life, the signs can also be observed in any category (old/ young, poor/rich etc.)

Depression is not a condition you easily navigate through and feel better but can take long-term treatment. It has been proven that people with this condition get treated and feel better. This is through some medications, rehabilitation processes and counselling services.