Symptoms of depression are nothing to be ignored; help is available

Symptoms of depression are nothing to be ignored; help is
available
…………………………………………………………………

BY JENNIFER EVANS
Rice News Staff

Everyone has
experienced the blues. Feeling down occasionally is a normal
reaction to the obstacles of life, and given time, the gloomy
feeling eventually abates. But clinical depression —
feelings of sadness that are intense and that last for two
weeks or more — is another matter altogether.

Clinical depression
is an illness, and it requires professional attention. In
fact, clinical depression is such a serious illness that
October has been named National Depression Awareness Month
to shine a light on this often undiagnosed, untreated and
stigmatized illness. According to the National Institute
for Mental Health, depression affects more than 19 million
American adults each year, and at anytime, one employee
in 20 is experiencing depression.

“It’s
the No. 1 problem we see students for in the Counseling
Center,” said Lindley Doran, director of the Rice Counseling
Center. “They may not all be suffering from a major
depression, but their symptoms are severe enough to cause
significant impairment in functioning.”

Untreated, clinical
depression can affect not only one’s emotions but also
mental focus, sleeping and eating patterns, productivity,
overall enjoyment of life and one’s will to live.

Symptoms of depression
include:
• persistent sadness
• feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, pessimism or
worthlessness
• loss of interest in ordinary activities
• fatigue or decreased energy
• sleeping more than normal or inability to sleep
• changes in appetite or weight
• excessive crying and/or irritability
• chronic aches and pains
• thoughts of death or suicide

Co-workers, supervisors,
friends or family may be the ones to first recognize the
symptoms in the person affected. They may seem less productive,
less cooperative, frequently tardy or absent or make comments
about feeling depressed.

“Depressed
people often do not have the wherewithal to get help,”
Doran said. “Family members and friends may need to
intervene to make sure they get the help they need. There
are a lot of myths and misconceptions that surround depression,
even among educated people. Telling someone who is clinically
depressed to ‘buck up’ or ‘rise above it’
isn’t helpful. And if they are truly clinically depressed,
it isn’t even possible.”
The good news is that a person suffering with depression
can get help through professional treatment. Treatment typically
will involve therapy, medication or a combination of both.

“Different
treatments work for different people,” Doran said,
noting that the most important thing to realize is that
it can and should be treated. “Having depression is
nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a clinical illness,
not a character weakness. We’re not ashamed if we’re
diabetic and we seek treatment. Depression should be no
different.”
Rice employees have a benefit that gives them access to
free, confidential, round-the-clock support for such a problem,
among many others: The Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
through United Behavioral Health (UBH).

An employee can
call either (800) 622-7276 or (713) 621-6500 to speak with
an intake counselor, who will ask a few questions to identify
resources that will best help the problem and who is conveniently
located for the employee, explained Gail Duncan, UBH workplace
support specialist. The employee then will receive all the
information to schedule an appointment with the counselor
or therapist he or she chooses.

“And this
benefit is available for the spouse and children of the
Rice employee, too,” Duncan said.

Each member of
the family is entitled to three visits per problem. After
those three visits, the employee might choose to take advantage
of the mental health portion of their insurance benefits.

For more information
about depression or treatment options contact UBH at (800)
622-7276, (713) 621-6500 or <www.unitedbehavioralhealth.com>
or the Rice Counseling Center at (713) 348-4867. Help is
available at both UBH and the Counseling Center 24 hours
a day.