Depression In Australia Essay

According to research published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, major depression rates for American adults increased from 3.33 percent to 7.06 from 1991 to 2002. “Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act”(Parekh). Although some may believe that depression is stagnant, more Americans are in fact dealing with depression than in years prior. I heard this and was unsettled. In a time of openness and greater opportunity than ever before, why is depression increasing in Americans? My research has lead to the conclusion that social media, the modernization of western culture, and the average American diet has been leading factors in

Depression is a devastating disorder, though one may find it hard to understand or take seriously. You can’t see it or touch it, but when it settles over you or your loved one, it can affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Depression can disable everything from waking up in the morning to going to work, even sleeping at night. Sufferers experience feelings of intense despair and hopelessness. Activities they used to find joy in no longer interest them and in some cases may lead to attempted suicide. Infact, Depression is the leading cause of medical disability worldwide and accounts for over 210 billion dollars each year in medical expenses and missed days of work. Antidepressants are prescribed at an all-time high and fail to consistently do better than placebo pills (Wittenborn, 551). I myself have experienced this first hand, shelling out money I didn’t have for antidepressants that had little to effect or just made my symptoms worse.

The term "mental illness" refers to a wide range of disorders that affect one's mood, thinking, and behaviour. Depression is among the most common mental illnesses (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, 2009). Depression is much more than simple unhappiness, it can be defined as an intense feeling of sadness and worthlessness that lasts for more than two weeks and for most of one's day. Symptoms include lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, as well as many other symptoms which can have repercussions socially, professionally, and in other significant areas of one's life (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). According to Health Canada (2009), twenty-seven percent of Canadians will experience depression in the course

It is hard to distinguish in human trials whether a zinc deficiency is the cause of depressive symptoms or if it is a result of the onset of the illness itself. It is likely that one is not consuming the appropriate nutrients when he or she is depressed. It was shown however, in

Mental illness is a popular ill among all ages of people, it can happen in kids, adult or in senior. In fact, 20% of Canadians will personally experience in their lifetime (Canada Mental Health Association, n.d.). But all among of those mental illness we’re going to talk about depression. Depression is an extremely complex disease and it can be really bad especially for people who are expected to focus during class, be confident and social outside of school, and successfully plan their futures, depression it can be devastating for these people. Even mental experts have a belief that’s teens suffering from untreated depression are up to 12 times more likely to commit suicide (Marsico, 2012, p16). The main purpose of making this report is to

A mental illness is an issue that affects one’s behaviour, emotions, thoughts and ability to interact with others (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2007). Common mental illnesses in Australia include anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders and personality disorders, with the most prevalent being anxiety disorders and depression. Anyone can develop a mental illness, although suffering from a chronic medical illness, experiencing a highly stressful or traumatic event, having a blood relation with a mental disorder or drug and alcohol use can increase one’s risk (Mayo Clinic 2015).

Mental illness is also known as mental disorder. These illnesses are most common in Australia. The most recent survey showed that about 1 in every 5 Australian suffer from mental disorders and mental illnesses at some point in their life. Mental illnesses can vary from mild to life threatening situations and there are many different kinds of mental illnesses. Mental illness can also lead to stigma and discrimination which is the major issue for most people.

The linkage of serotonin to depression has been known for the past five years. From numerous studies, the most concrete evidence of this connection is the decreased concentration of serotonin metabolites like 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissues of depressed people. If depression, as suggested, is a result of decreased levels of serotonin in the brain, pharmaceutical agents that can reverse this effect should be helpful in treating depressed patients. Therefore, the primary targets of various antidepressant medications are serotonin transports of the brain. Since serotonin is activated when released by neurons into the synapse, antidepressants function at the synapse to enhance serotonin activity. Normally, serotonin's actions in the synapse are terminated by its being taken back into the neuron then releases it at which point "it is either recycled for reuse as a transmitter or broken down into its metabolic by products and transported out of the brain." As a result, antidepressants work to increase serotonin levels at the synapse by blocking serotonin reuptake (2).

There has been many issues affecting the Australia’s mental health work: • Changing demography and disease patterns as the population ages, and the burden of chronic illness grows - The ageing population of Australia makes it difficult for the health services to sustain health and wellbeing, handle serious and existing illness, and offer support for the frail and disabled. • Increasing costs of medical advances and the need to ensures that there are comprehensive, efficient and transparent processes for assessing health technologies - Technology now is much more advanced than the medical technology in the past few years. Since there’s been new medical technologies, there’s also high cost of it. Australia has a desirable record in the assessment

Depression being an affective mood disorder is a serious global public health issue with over 350 million sufferers worldwide8,10,11. Although it is described with feelings of low mood, inadequacy, guilt, low self-worth, loss of motivation, interest, pleasure and concentration; it is also associated with a functional deficit of the monoamine transmitters (serotonin and noradrenaline) in certain brain regions such as amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex6,10. It can also induce biological symptoms like retardation of thought and action as well as sleep disturbances, loss of appetite and libido and if left untreated, it can eventually lead to disability8,11. Therefore, the pharmacotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of depression.

More than three hundred and fifty million people globally are affected by depression, and it is of utmost importance to discover why they are depressed and how they can be assisted (Pietrangelo, 2015). Marion Leboyer has this to say about depression, “Major depression is associated with substantial social and even physical dysfunction, significantly more than some chronic medical conditions, eg, diabetes.” Bipolar disorder, dysthymia, and major depressive disorder are some forms of the incredibly debilitating disorder that leaves many individuals with a perpetual sense of gloominess (iFred, 2017). Depression can be seasonal, grief-induced, or caused by imbalances of chemicals in the brain

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is currently labeled one of the world’s greatest health problems, with an estimated prevalence of 4.7% and the second highest cause of years lived with a disability in 2010. The economic impact on patients with MDD is extensive particularly in patients that do not respond to treatment. Severe MDD can lead to loss of productivity and increase mortality.

Depression is one of the biggest health challenges the world faces. More than 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. One in five people will experience a period of depression in their lives, and it is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Aside from the personal cost to sufferers and their families, the impact on the economy is vast, with the cost in Europe alone amounting to €92 bn a year, much of which is down to lost productivity.

Depression is “a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendancies”. (Merriam-Webster, unknown). It is important to understand the effects of depression amongst young people, as it is a large problem in Australia. Depression effects on in sixteen Australians aged 16-24 (BeyondBlue, unknown), and the largest killer of the Australian youth is suicide (BeyondBlue, unknown). Depression can be broken down into smaller sections, and they are; the way it effects young people, the prevalence of depression, the consequences it brings upon

Depression is the most common of all psychological disorders, affecting 100 million people worldwide. The depression ranges from mild feelings of uneasiness, sadness, and apathy to intense suicidal despair. (Kasschau) If left untreated, it could lead the