Depression can lead to suicide

[Naveed Yaseen]

Depression is a serious illness and World Health Organization ranks it as one of the top causes of human suffering and disability worldwide. About 10% of the world population suffers from depression that leads to disability if not recognised and treated early.

The suffering from depression is because of lack of understanding and can be managed and treated successfully. In the beginning the symptoms could be subtle and difficult to recognise.

Some of the warning symptoms are feeling sad, restlessness, reduction of interest in activities, significant weight loss, difficulty in sleeping or sleeping too much, feeling tired and worthless, low self-esteem, impaired attention and concentration, memory problems, poor judgment, inability to make decisions and in extreme cases suicidal attempt.

There are so many different causes of depression. If you look at the families where someone has committed suicide the chances are that you will find another case in the close family. High profile suicides get attention such as the suicide of Sylvia Plath and the suicide of her son Nicholas Hughes who suffered from depression leading to inability to keep his job as a Marine biologist. He was only a year old when his mother Sylvia Plath committed suicide. Sylvia Plath was a great poet but a depressed person.

Depression could be the result of death of a loved one, or any other traumatic event. Some people could get depressed if they lose their job or status.

Depression affects twice as many women as men. Divorced women are more prone to this disease. It also doubles the risk of coronary heart disease. It takes much of the joy out of people’s lives.

It is very important to maintain a regular sleep cycle for people who are prone to depression. Also treating depression without addressing the sleep problem will not be enough since the disease will come back. People must sleep and wake at regular time. Light therapy is also important when treating depression and people must spend more time in the sunlight.

Research shows that depressed people go to REM sleep (sleep stage when people dream) earlier than people who are not depressed. It is more important in determining who is at risk for developing depression in future. Children and adolescents had shorter REM latency even before they developed depression later in life.

One must consult a professional as soon as one suspect having depression so treatment could be started before symptoms get worse leading to tremendous sufferings, disabilities, economic loss and loss of life as suicide and depression go together.

Family can help depressed person getting professional help and treatment. Here it is important to mention that the family also suffers in many different ways and if the depressed person was the only working member of the family then suffering gets worst. They have to cope with the personality change and behaviour change of the loved one. It is very important to know how to help the depressed member of the family. The most important thing is to be non-judgmental.

The depressed person must be given unconditional love and support by members of his family. He must be listened to when he wants to talk. He should be taken for a walk whenever he wants it. It is important to reassure the patient that he will be out of depression eventually. One should not force the patient to cheer up or make statements that there was nothing wrong with him. If the patient talks about suicide, it must be taken seriously and the professional should be consulted.

It is very important not to get depressed yourself by keeping the positive attitude. There is likelihood that you might get depressed since depression runs in the families so always be aware of it.

— Psychiatrist Dr Nighat Zaka

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=206416