Depression

What is depression?

• Depression is more complex than feeling unhappy

• People who suffer from this tend to feel unhappy/sad over a long period

• It is not a weakness or something that will go away quickly

• With the right treatment and support most people can make a full recovery.

How to tell if you have depression

• There are a variety of symptoms that you can experience:Feelings of sadness and hopelessnessLosing interest in things that you enjoyedAnxietyTiredness/ sleeping badlyLoss of appetite or sex drive

When to see a doctor

• It is important to see a doctor if you think you are depressed

• Many people wait too long before looking for help, the sooner you see a doctor the sooner you can recover

• Sometimes there are triggers for depression:Life-changing eventsBereavementUnemploymentLoss of a family member

The length of time taken to seek help and recover according to gender

How many months they wait until they seek help

How long it takes for them to recover

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Females suffering from depressionMales suffering from depression

Side-effects of depression according to gender from a study of 50 participants

Gender Sleep Deprivation

Weight Loss/Gain

Anxiety Feeling Sad/Hopeless

Male 45% 78% 30% 79%

Female 75% 69% 88% 85%