Depression

Clinical Depression is a biochemical disorder or imbalance... Depression is an Illness, not a weakness.

We all understand that feeling depressed means feeling down, blue or sad, but what's the difference between depression that is a down mood and depression that is an illness?  Everyone has "the blues" from time to time, a sad mood that lifts or passes within a day or two.  We also understand that feeling depressed can be a natural reaction to an unhappy situation, whether it's failing an exam or missing a loved one who has died.

However, many people do not understand the difference between the sad feelings we all experience from time to time and clinical depression, which is a mental illness.

All of our feelings involve changes in the biochemistry of our brains.  We have a rebalancing mechanism that brings us back to our natural equilibrium.  For people with clinical depression, there is a disorder in this mechanism which means that severe feelings of sadness may be triggered by a stressful event or situation, or without any obvious cause at all, and that the person is not able to naturally rebalance or recover from his/her sadness.  

In adolescence, girls are more likely to suffer from depression in a ratio of 2:1, however, statistically, depressed boys are more likely to commit suicide.  In fact, suicide associated with depression is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds, and the sixth leading cause of death for 5-14 year olds. This is a serious problem so we, as teachers, should be aware of the common signs of depression, especially since as many as 1 in 33 children suffer from depression.

There are three main types of depression:  Major/Clinical Depression, Bipolar (Manic) Depression, and Dysthymia.

Causes of Depression

Genetic Factors    Psychological Factors   Stress/Environment

The causes of depression are complex.  Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological environmental factors is involved in the onset of clinical depression.  At times, however, depression occurs for no apparent reason.  Regardless of the cause, depression is almost always treatable.

 Genetic/biological factors – Family History

The basic biochemistry of our bodies is genetically determined just as we inherit the colour of our eyes, we can also inherit a susceptibility to certain illnesses.  Depression often runs in families, which usually means that some, but not all, family members have a tendency to develop the illness.  Because diagnosis is difficult even today, it is not unusual now for parents to be diagnosed at the same time as their children.

•         Genetic predisposition means that for people who have this potential, stressful events may trigger clinical depression in situations where other people have a milder reaction and recover naturally.

•      Experiences like childbirth, which involve major physical and hormonal changes, can trigger depression.

•      Certain medications which affect the biochemistry of our bodies can also bring about depression.

•    Adolescents, because of their stage of life, are often more susceptible to develop depression if they such a predisposition.

Stress

Psychological and Environmental stressors can contribute to a depressive episode, though individuals react differently to life events and experiences.  Someone who has a predisposition towards depression will be affected  more profoundly than a person who is not predisposed.

•      Stressful Life Events:  No one gets through life without experiencing the kind of depression that is part of grieving following a loss or bereavement.  Breaking up with a partner, losing a loved one, taking exams, doing presentations, etc… all of these are potential stressors that could lead to the onset of a depressive episode.

•        Stressful Life Conditions:  Living in a situation of prolonged stress, such as a home where there is violence or abuse, or where a parent is alcoholic, or where there is never enough money – any of these can give rise to depression.

•      Post Secondary:  Adolescents are one step away from entering into the “adult world.”  Post secondary institutions are a great strain on students even before they enter into them.  Anticipation of what is facing them when they get there and dealing with it when they actually arrive may cause people who have a predispositon towards depression may be affected.  In addition, many of the stressors that exist in post secondary educational environments may also be present in high school.  Some of these are:

(i)                 Greater Academic Stress

(ii)               Being on one’s own in a new environment

(iii)             Changes in family relations

(iv)             Financial responsibilities

(v)               Changes in social life

(vi)             Exposure to new people, ideas and temptations

(vii)           Awareness of one’s sexual identity ad orientation

(viii)         Preparing to enter “the real world”

Psychological Factors

A person’s social environment can contribute directly to one’s self-image.  People who have a low self-esteem, who are pessimistic about themselves and the world, and who are easily overwhelmed by stress are more susceptible depression.

•      Some people see life in a very negative way and have very low self esteem, often as a result of a poor family environment.

•      Many children in school are taunted and teased because of their lack of physical ability or intellectual competence, etc. 

•      Economic status, especially during adolescence, is a contributing factor to self-image – we live in a society where one’s worth as a person is generally decided by one’s possessions.

•      Virtually any negative environment can cause a person to develop psychological factors that will contribute to an onset of some form of depression.

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