Mental Health Awareness Month: Major Depression

Among the top mental illnesses major depression has a huge health concern among African Americans. Statistics have found that women are twice more than likely than men to be depressed. Black women are among the most undertreated groups for major and clinical depression, which can have serious consequences on the African African community.

Major Depression is described as a mood disorder with a collection of symptoms persisting over a two week time. A constant sense of hopelessness and despair is a sign you may have major depression. With major depression, it may be difficult to work, sleep, eat, or enjoy simple activities. Some people have clinical depression only once in their life, while others have it several times in a lifetime. Major depression can sometimes occur from one generation to the next in families, but often it may affect people with no family history of the illness.

Many women have major or clinical depression: hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and menopause, may increase the risk. Other factors that boost the risk of clinical depression in women who are biologically vulnerable to it include increased stress at home or at work, balancing family life with career, and caring for an aging parent. Raising a child alone will also increase the risk.

According to the Institute of Mental Health, the symptoms of depression can include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

• Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism

• Irritability

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

• Decreased energy or fatigue

• Moving or talking more slowly

• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

• Appetite and/or weight changes

• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

Because of negative stigmas surrounding mental health and depression, there is an extreme lack of knowledge about depression in African-American communities. Researchers at Mental Health America find that African-Americans are more likely to believe depression is “normal.” Researchers have examined black women’s representations and beliefs about mental illness. They have found that there is a low use of mental health services by African-American women and identifying stigma as the most significant barrier to seeking mental health services among blacks. Many African-Americans do not understand depression to be a serious medical condition, but the stereotype of the strong black woman leads many African-American women to believe that they don’t have the luxury or time to experience depression. Some even believe it is only something White people experience. That is not the case!

Being depressed can make you feel helpless (you are not hopeless). Along with therapy and sometimes medication, there's a lot you can do on your own to fight back. Switching up your daily routine, physical activity, making lifestyle changes, and even your way of thinking will help you over come. Challenge negative thoughts. A lot of the work is mental -- changing how you think. When you're depressed, you think of the worst possible conclusions. The next time you're feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a natural depression treatment. You might feel like no one likes you, but is there real evidence for that? You might feel like the most worthless person on the planet, but is that really likely? It takes practice, but in time you can beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control.

As an African American community it is important that we take care of our mental health and our health over all.

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