... Feeling "Blue"?

... It Could be Depression

... Everyone feels blue now and then. It’s part of life. But, if you no longer enjoy activities that you usually like, you may have a more serious problem. Being depressed, without let up, can change the way you think and feel. Doctors call this “clinical depression.” Clinical depression is a common medical illness affecting more than 19 million American adults each year.

... There is no one cause of depression.For some people, a single event can bring on the illness. Depression often strikes people who felt fine but who suddenly find they are dealing with a death in the family or a serious illness. For some people, changes in the brain can affect mood and cause depression. Sometimes, those under a lot of stress, like caregivers, can feel depressed. Others become depressed for no clear reason. People with serious illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or
Parkinson’s disease, sometimes become depressed. They may worry about how their illness will change their lives.

... The good news is that people who are depressed usually feel better with the right treatment. The first step is to accept that you or your family member needs help.Your doctor or mental health expert can often treat your depression successfully.

... Depression screenings should be a routine part of healthcare, similar to routine checkups for heart disease or diabetes. This can provide a quick and easy way to spot the first signs of what could become a serious mental illness. Screenings may consist of education on depression, completion of a written screening test, a discussion of the results with a mental health professional and, if necessary, a referral for additional help.

......... San Diego County’s Check Your Mood Depression Screening Week (DSW) is from
October 6-12, 2014. For a complete listing of screening sites and additional mental health resources, please call 2-1-1 or the multilingual Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240 .

EN ESPAÑOL

Salud+HealthInfo is for information and educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned abut your health or that of a child, please consult your family's physician or health provider immediately and do not try to diagnose yourself. Salud+Health Info is published and distributed free of charge by Info Option Network (ION) Publishing Company. Copyright © 2001-2014 Info Option Network

About Us | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us