May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Depression affects 9.9 million American adults. It occurs nearly twice as often in women as men. Many people talk about feeling depressed, but are unsure of what depression really is. Depression is a persistent and serious illness that affects an individual's thoughts, behavior, mood, activity, and physical health.

Common signs and symptoms…

• Profound sadness or irritable mood
• Pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, and energy
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering
• Lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that were once enjoyable

Just like adults, children and adolescents go through difficult periods. Depression is more than a difficult period - they cannot simply "get over it". As many as one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents may have depression. The rate of suicide for 15 to 24 year olds had nearly tripled since 1960.

Common signs and symptoms…

• Withdrawal from friends and from activities once enjoyed
• Missed school or poor school performance
• Poor self-esteem or guilt
• Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches
• Lack of enthusiasm, low energy, or low motivation

If you are concerned that you or a loved one has any of the above symptoms, it may be helpful to speak with an EAP counselor. Your EAP counselor can provide additional information and support about other symptoms, causes and treatment of depression. For assistance, contact EAP at x 6-4600.