Depression in men
Is Depression Common?
It’s very common. One in six New Zealanders will experience a major depressive disorder at some time in their life. One in seven young New Zealanders experience a major depressive disorder before the age of 24. Depression increases the risk of suicide by 20 times.
What is Depression?
Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness. Depression affects how you feel about yourself. You may lose interest in work, hobbies and doing things you normally enjoy. You may lack energy, have difficulty sleeping or sleep more than usual. Some people feel anxious or irritable and find it difficult to concentrate. Over one million people in Australia live with depression each year. On average, one in five women and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime. The good news is, just like a physical illness, depression is treatable and effective treatments are available.
Are there Different Types of Depression?
Different types of depression often have slightly different symptoms and may require different treatments. The five main types of depression are listed below.
What Makes a Person more at Risk of Depression
Some events or situations have been linked with depression:
Protecting Yourself from Depression
There are many things you can do that can help protect you from getting depressed. These include:
What are the Treatments for Depression
Depression is often not recognised or treated. This may include physical exercise for preventing and treating mild depression, through to psychological and drug treatments for more severe depression.
Things to Remember
Recommended depression websites:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz
http://www.beatingtheblues.co.nz/
http://www.depression.org.nz/
http://www.thelowdown.co.nz/
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx
It’s very common. One in six New Zealanders will experience a major depressive disorder at some time in their life. One in seven young New Zealanders experience a major depressive disorder before the age of 24. Depression increases the risk of suicide by 20 times.
What is Depression?
Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness. Depression affects how you feel about yourself. You may lose interest in work, hobbies and doing things you normally enjoy. You may lack energy, have difficulty sleeping or sleep more than usual. Some people feel anxious or irritable and find it difficult to concentrate. Over one million people in Australia live with depression each year. On average, one in five women and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime. The good news is, just like a physical illness, depression is treatable and effective treatments are available.
Are there Different Types of Depression?
Different types of depression often have slightly different symptoms and may require different treatments. The five main types of depression are listed below.
Major depression - a depressed mood that lasts for at least two weeks. This may also be referred to as clinical depression or unipolar depression.
Psychotic depression - a depressed mood which includes symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis involves seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), feeling everyone is against you (paranoia) and having delusions.
Dysthymia - a less severe depressed mood that lasts for years.
Mixed depression and anxiety - a combination of symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Bipolar disorder - (formerly known as manic depressive illness) - involves periods of feeling low (depressed) and high (manic).
What Makes a Person more at Risk of Depression
Some events or situations have been linked with depression:
Family conflict
Isolation or loneliness
Unemployment
Having a serious medical illness
Drug and alcohol use
Changes in the brain
Having a family member with depression
It’s important to remember that each person is different and it is often a combination of factors that puts a person at risk of depression
Protecting Yourself from Depression
There are many things you can do that can help protect you from getting depressed. These include:
Staying fit and healthy
Reducing alcohol use
Getting enough sleep
Having balance in your life – identifying and managing stress
Spending time with people you like and trust and doing things you usually enjoy
Developing skills like problem-solving and communication
What are the Treatments for Depression
Depression is often not recognised or treated. This may include physical exercise for preventing and treating mild depression, through to psychological and drug treatments for more severe depression.
Things to Remember
Depression and anxiety are common and treatable
Help is available and it’s important to seek help early – the sooner the better
Depression and anxiety disorders are illnesses, not weaknesses, and people shouldn’t feel ashamed to seek help
By talking about depression and anxiety, we can help raise awareness and reduce the stigma
Recommended depression websites:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz
http://www.beatingtheblues.co.nz/
http://www.depression.org.nz/
http://www.thelowdown.co.nz/
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx
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