Media Facts

NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAY, OCTOBER 6, 2005

Mental Illness and Parental Depression Fact Sheet

• Depression affects over 13-14 million US adults each year and often co-occurs with other mental health disorders (such as bipolar disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder) as well as physical illnesses.
• Bipolar Disorder (mood swings between depression and mania with periods of normal mood in between) is often missed, with delays in diagnosis of 8-10 years and is associated with a higher risk for suicide.
• The worry associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder can shift from one concern to another; one minute it’s being late for an appointment, the next it is concern over a child’s health. The key is that the worry is disproportionate to the true nature of the concern.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur at any age and symptoms can occur years after the trauma.

Depression

• Persistent sadness, anxiety or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities
• Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Restlessness or irritability
• Inability to sleep or oversleeping
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Mania

• Extreme irritability and distractibility
• Excessive “high” or euphoric feelings
• Increased energy, activity, restlessness
• Racing thoughts, rapid speech
• Decreased need for sleep
• Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
• Increased sexual drive
• Abuse of drugs or alcohol
• Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, or erratic driving
• In severe cases, hallucinations and loss of reason

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Excessive worry about everyday things that interferes with daily functioning
• Physical symptoms such as sweating, nausea, clammy hands, sleep disturbance

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Re-experiencing the event through intrusive thoughts or dreams
• Avoiding conversations or situations that remind the sufferer of the eventv
• A sense of detachment
• Irritability, anxiousness, hypervigilance
• Outbursts of anger

Parental Depression

• Depression most often affects people between the ages of 30-44, prime parenting years.
• Children at risk: Having a parent with depression does increase the risk for depression in children.
• In addition, a parent with depression may be less likely to effectively care for a child, tipping the balance in that child toward depression, but not because of genes.
• Resilient Children: Encouragingly, research is now indicating that talking about depression with your children can not only increase their understanding of the illness but also increase their resilience to developing depression themselves.
• Encouraging their friendships and supporting their activities outside of the home also builds resilience in the face of parental depression.
• For Parents: You can be depressed and still be a good parent! Get treatment for yourself. Taking care of yourself is the first, best thing you can do for yourself and for your family