World Health Organization shares that 280 million people in the world have depression. Many people know the tell tale symptoms (which are persistent and consistent for at least 2 weeks) however there are many misunderstandings. Let’s debunk some of these myths:
- People with depression are lazy. Experiencing depression isn’t a choice. Depression can be a culmination of difficulties with one’s epigenetics and environment. Both of which can be out of one’s control.
- People with depression never leave the bed. There are many different symptoms of depression. A few include persistent feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, decreased energy and concentration, physical aches and pains, and changes in appetite. Some people have only a few symptoms, others have more. The level of intensity varies as well.
- Depression only affects women. Depression does not discriminate and can impact people of any age, race, gender, and ethnicity. Women are more frequently diagnosed however men are also diagnosed with depression. Men tend to suffer in silence due to the stigmatization that men should “suck it up.”
- If your parents have it, you’ll have it too. It’s important to understand if one’s family members have challenges with their mental health. It’s also important not to assume that depression will automatically be passed down. There are other risk factors for depression outside of genetics that you can address (e.g. substance use, stress, life changes).
If we continue to normalize talking about mental health and debunk the misconceptions, specifically depression, there will be less stigma and people will reach out for help.
If you feel that you might have depression and would like further assessment, reach out to your primary doctor. They have the capacity to screen for depression. Primary care doctors can also assist in making referrals to a mental health provider.
