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First up, what is... DEPRESSION ?

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a lack of activity. When a person suffers from depression, his daily life is affected and he can't function normally. It disrupts both the emotional and physical well-being of a person. Depression has a negative emotional impact on the affected person as well as those that care about him. It is a common but serious illness, and most who suffer from it need to seek treatment to get better. There is hope for them. A vast majority of these people, even those suffering from severe depression can get better with treatment. According to the U.S based National Alliance on Mental Illness, "70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports." . Unfortunately, many of them do not seek treatment. One reason for this could be caused by the stigma attached to depression and mental illnesses in general. Stigma refers to a stereotyped set of negative views, and inaccurate, unfounded beliefs and fears that influence how mental health issues are understood. Many people view depression as a personal weakness or a character flaw, and view it with contempt. This leads to stigma, a mark of shame/discredit in our society, and prevents those that suffer from speaking out, or seeking help. Stigma is a destructive trait of our culture, because it causes all of us to lose out. Almost everyone suffers from mental illness at one point in their life. Everybody eventually suffers physical illness, but it is no different with mental illness - they come in different forms and severity. There is no reason why mental illness should be viewed as more negative or frightening than physical illness. Therefore, like any other illnesses, there should be no shame in getting appropriate help for these people.

Subject of the Month: Tiffany Pieczynski

Her Story:

Depression is one of the most painful feelings I've seen and experienced. It changes a person both inside and usually out. The people themselves however never realize they're depressed because of the many thoughts and feelings running constantly through their head. The first thought is thinking you're not a good person, but one who is useless. Many times I've felt useless because with my situation I couldn't do anything to really stop the causes and stress that was building inside me. In thinking I was useless that's also how I had felt. I would push away friends and occasionally family because I thought I wasn't worth their time. I spent many times alone either in my room or bed constantly crying or writing about both my thoughts and feelings. You find yourself also thinking everyone and everything is out to get you and think telling a person will make a situation worse than it already is. The next thought depending on the severity of the situation was wanting and constantly thinking of running away in the hopes that things would be better somewhere, if anywhere else. You constantly find yourself feeling guilty of everything around you and think if you run or take yourself out of the big picture (suicide) that things would be better. With me this thought sprang when my parents would fight or too many problems were happening all at once. This didn't give me much time to think of anything, but wanting to get away. In turn though every time I did run and come back in a couple of hours I always felt guilty and began to think other thoughts. Another thought that always has came to mind is feeling like everything that is happening to you is your fault and telling a person makes the depressed person feel even more guilty as they then think they are upsetting you. I had put all the blame for any event as being my fault and mine alone. A few friends of mine would get depressed and think when a friend or loved one left them that it was their fault and so they would feel that same thought and also others. This in my opinion through experience is the hardest thoughts and feelings to overcome because when I feel guilty you withdraw yourself and easily go into thoughts of suicide. You then lose your self confidence and find yourself thinking of your weight, appearance, and flaws. People who are depressed think they are fat or ugly. They will constantly see themselves as a person who can't do one thing right and take action by them no longer eating, sleeping, or doing the things they once loved. They think they are not good enough or smart enough to go out and try new or old things. The many thoughts of depression, aside from their feelings are your main signs to realizing the current illness. Realizing and understanding these thoughts in turn can cause you to be the difference in a depressed person's life as that tends to lose its worth and beauty. This if not caught can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions such as cutting themselves or overdosing on a medication. Hopefully I was able by writing this to help you the caring person stop or help a person going through depression. This in turn will help you understand and cope better with this person and in turn give her the hope they need to suppress many painful thoughts or memories.

Silver Ribbon Singapore
Our Vision Positive attitude towards mental health among the community. Our Mission To combat mental health stigma, encourage early treatment and facilitate integration of people with mental illness within the society through innovative means of promoting mental health literacy.

Audible Hearts
Are you at a stage in life when you’re uncertain about how to move forward? Are you troubled by relationship problems, issues with your family, or maybe just done something you wish you hadn’t? No query is too small or too big at Audible Hearts and we’re here to provide a listening ear and if you’ll take it - advice from one young person to another.

Health Promotion Board Singapore
Singapore Health Promotion Board


Overseas Anti-stigma organizations
Stamp Out Stigma
Seemescotland
Adscenter
Openthedoors


August 2008


Designer DancingSheep
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