03/08/2021
๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก & ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฒ (๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐)
We all feel sad from time to time. But when sadness persisted for weeks or months and never seems to fade away, it might be a symptom of depression. It is important to know that depression isnโt a sign of weakness or something you can โsnap out ofโ by โpulling yourself togetherโ.
The key findings from the Singapore Mental Health Study (SAMHS) 2016 show that:
โข 1 in 7 people in Singapore has experienced a mood, anxiety, or alcohol use disorder in their lifetime.
โข Among the conditions assessed in this study, major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol abuse and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) emerged as the top three mental disorders in Singapore. MDD was the most common with one in 16 people in Singapore having had the condition at some point in their lifetime, while alcohol abuse and OCD affected one in 24 and one in 28 people, respectively.
โข Socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, employment, and income status were factors associated with the prevalence of mental disorders.
โข The proportion of the people with mental disorders who were not seeking help remains high, and a significant treatment gap remains.
The study in 2016 was conducted with a sample size of 6,126 participants from 15,900 randomly selected residents and compared with the 2010 study. It showed a significant increase in mental disorder over the years.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง?
Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms. They
range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things
you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms
of anxiety. There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly,
having no appetite or s*x drive and various aches and pains.
The symptoms of depression range from mild to severe. At its mildest, you may simply feel
persistently low in spirit, while severe depression can make you feel suicidal, that life is no
longer worth living. Most people experience feelings of stress, unhappiness, or anxiety during
difficult times. A low mood may improve after a short period of time, rather than being a sign
of depression.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง?
Sometimes thereโs a trigger for depression. Life-changing events, such as bereavement, losing
your job or even having a baby, can bring it on.
People with a family history of depression are more likely to experience it themselves. But you
can also become depressed for no obvious reason.
Depression is fairly common, affecting about one in 10 people at some point during their life. It affects men and women, young and old.
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Treatment for depression can involve a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies and medication. Your recommended treatment will be based on whether you have mild, moderate, or severe depression.
If you have mild depression, your doctor may suggest waiting to see whether it improves on its own, while monitoring your progress. This is known as โwatchful waitingโ. They may also suggest lifestyle measures such as exercise and self-help groups.
Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are often used for mild depression that isnโt improving or moderate depression. Antidepressants are also sometimes prescribed. For moderate to severe depression, a combination of talking therapy and antidepressants is often recommended. If you have severe depression, you may be referred to a specialist mental health team for intensive specialist talking treatments and prescribed medication.
Watch the space for part 2.
