What is depression?

According to the American Psychological Association, depression is the most common mental illness, and is caused by biological, psychological, and social reasons. Some social factors that can affect depression include racism, discrimination, and poverty, all of which disproportionately affect people of color.

Depression can cause negative changes in brain function, physical and mental health. Depression affects how we think, feel, and act. The American Psychological Association notes that everyone feels sad at times, but depression is something more.

Some signs of depression include extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than a few days, not enjoying activities like before, sadness that interferes with daily life activities, and difficulty thinking, focusing, or making decisions.

They can also include physical symptoms such as pain, weight loss or gain that is unrelated to changes in eating habits, trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much, increased fatigue or lack of energy, feeling worthless or guilty, or recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

How does depression affect people?

Without treatment, a person with depression may engage in unhealthy behaviors like drug and alcohol misuse, gambling, risky sexual activity, self-harm, or harm to other people. Untreated depression can lead to many emotional and medical problems and difficulties at home, school, work, and with the law.

Different groups may have different signs of depression. For example, depression might look different by gender identity or age.

How is depression treated?

Depression is diagnosed and treated by a licensed mental health provider or other medical professional. It is a treatable illness; don’t “tough it out” or suffer in silence! Thankfully, there are many options for treating depression. If someone is experiencing signs of depression, they should speak with their doctor to discuss options, which include counseling or “talk therapy” with a licensed mental health provider.

During talk therapy, a person learns coping skills for negative thoughts and feelings so they can feel better. Medication is also an option in some cases. There are many types of medication used to treat the biological causes of depression. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, medications work by changing how the brain produces or uses certain chemicals involved in mood or stress.

A person may need to try several different antidepressants before finding the one that improves their symptoms. Antidepressants can take up to eight weeks to work, so it’s important to give medication time to work before deciding if it’s helping.

Another option is a combination of talk therapy and medication. If you think you’re suffering from depression, please speak to your medical or mental health provider. The National Suicide and Crisis hotline 988 is free, available for everyone in over 200 languages.

If you, or someone you know, is a clear and present danger to themselves or others, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you, or someone you know, is in an emotional crisis, reach out and call or text message 988 anytime 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, anytime of year.

Start with a text, if a phone call is too scary. It could be a short text message that reads, “I need to talk” or “I feel alone.” Remember, it is important to have open conversations about depression, to raise awareness, and to end stigma. There is hope, and help.

To request a community workshop on mental health, contact communityhealth@montefiore.org, and to learn more about mental health services at Montefiore, call (718) 430-2290 or visit https://www.montefiore.org/psychiatry-services.