The Depression Epidemic
One in every six people you meet has struggled with depression at some point in their life. Experts say that number will only increase with time (Pelham, 2009, p.1). If we do not diligently take action to work toward a solution, Depression will remain one of the most common forms of mental illness in the United States. With the increase in its numbers, Depression is now being labeled as a social epidemic(Ormel, 2020, p.1). Psychologists believe the rates of depression are much higher than what the statistics
show (Gallup, 2009, p.1). This is
because people who are suffering from
it don't always seek help due to the
large amount of complications and
social stigmas attached to the diagnosis.
It is often referred to as a silent killer
(Davis, 2018, p.1).
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Over the years, our understanding of
depression and mental illness has
dramatically evolved. In the Middle
Ages, people blamed mental illness on
spirits and demonic activity, the most
common forms of treatment were typically exorcisms (Espí Forcén, 2014, p.1). A few hundred years later, doctors believed that depression was an inherited weakness and that people suffering from it should be shunned or imprisoned (Schimelpfening, 2023, p.1). Now, in today's society, we have a better understanding of what depression is and how to treat it. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, anxiety, little to no motivation, decreased appetite, decreased interest in hobbies, increased irritability, and suicidal ideation ( Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022, p.1). The severity of symptoms differs from case to case. Psychologist, Eiko I Fried, says that “Most measures of depression severity are based on the number of reported symptoms.”(Eiko, 2015, p.1). Unfortunately, since a lot of cases go undocumented, The statistics are only of people who were willing to seek help. There are so many people out there who simply do not have the tools to help themselves. Mental health professionals do not
have an accurate estimate of how common depression is among patients
(Gallup, 2009, p.1). The world we live in is ridden with isolation and judgment.
It is no surprise that this silent killer is running rampant. We as a society, need
to instill a supportive environment where mental health is an open topic absent
of judgment and criticism. We should educate the public about depression and
the significant impact it has on the individuals affected by it. We need to
encourage people to prioritize their mental health and remind them that they
aren't alone.
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The first solution is to foster an environment where mental health is an open
topic of discussion free of judgment. The first step would be to educate people
on how depression forms. Teaching people that the diagnosis is nothing to feel
shame about and the people who are affected by it have no control over their diagnosis. Famous psychologist, Aaron Beck, developed the Cognitive Behavior Theory or the “Beck Theory”. He says “If beliefs do not change, there is no improvement. If beliefs change, symptoms change. Beliefs function as little operational units.”
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The theory explains three types of negative thought patterns. They are listed as negative thoughts about self, negative thoughts about the world or environment, and negative thoughts about the future. This theory soon introduced a new form of therapy called Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT (Suma P, 2023, p.1). CBT has been proven to teach patients how to reroute their negative thought patterns and it has even been shown to prevent pattern relapses. Aaron Beck says “...the cognitive approach helps individuals to come to grips with the problems leading to emotional distress...” Some mental health professionals argue that CBT is not an efficient form of treatment (Giacomantonio, 2012, p.1). They say that it does not fully address the complexity of trauma. CBT would give people the tools to look out for their own well-being as well as others around them while also breaking the stigmas attached to the diagnosis. It would work to change their maladaptive thought patterns and allowing them to evaluate their beliefs is the first step to long-lasting improvement.
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As a second solution, we should offer more public resources that are easily accessible. Therapies, treatments, and medications should be frequently advertised to ensure that the public is kept informed about new developments within the mental health community. It would encourage a more confident patient-doctor dialogue. A study tracked how many people responded to a depression medication ad, professionals reported that more than half of the viewers read the article and sought out more information from their doctor (Bell, 2010, p.1 Some argue that this may reduce cooperation between patients and their doctors' treatment suggestions leading to frequent switching of providers (Bell, 2010, p.1). Patients should not be discouraged from advocating for themselves and their needs. They have every right to search for a doctor who will take their symptoms seriously.
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An additional solution would be to offer treatment and medication at a more affordable price. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Around 39% of adults in need of mental health services are unable to afford the cost of their treatment (Conroy, 2020, pg.21). Government health insurance agencies can solve this problem by offering more funding for low-income individuals. A few lawmakers argue that the government's money should focus on the root of mental health issues such as poorly funded schools and prison systems. Investing money into mental health treatments would be the most direct solution to solving this social epidemic.
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There is not a simple solution to depression which is why we should all collectively make the effort to find what works and what does not. We should focus on giving people the proper incentives that will assist them in getting the help that they need. With combined efforts, we can stop the rapid growth of this social epidemic. A world without laughter, motivation, or hope is what we have to look forward to if we don't stop the spread of this silent killer. Making treatments more affordable and easily accessible would be an effective first step in putting an end to the ongoing cycle of this illness.
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References
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Beck’s cognitive theory. (n.d.). Our Blue Sky Minds. Retrieved March 14, 2024, from https://www.ourblueskyminds.org/articles/7/12/2021
Bell, R. A., Taylor, L. D., & Kravitz, R. L. (2010). Do antidepressant advertisements educate consumers and promote communication between patients with depression and their physicians? Patient education and counseling, 81(2), 245–250. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2891933/
Chand, S. P., Kuckel, D. P., & Huecker, M. R. (2024). Cognitive behavior therapy. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470241/
Depression, a silent killer | cptsdfoundation. Org. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 27, 2024, from https://cptsdfoundation.org/2018/06/06/depression-a-silent-killer/
Depression (Major depressive disorder)—Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
Espí Forcén, C., & Espí Forcén, F. (2014). Demonic possessions and mental illness: Discussion of selected cases in late medieval hagiographical literature. Early Science and Medicine, 19(3), 258–279.
Fried, Eiko I., and Randolph M. Nesse. "Depression sum-scores don’t add up: why analyzing specific depression symptoms is essential." BMC medicine 13.1 (2015): 1-11.
Giacomantonio, S. G. (2012). Three problems with the theory of cognitive therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 66(4), 375–390. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://psychotherapy.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2012.66.4.375
Inc, G. (2009, October 22). About one in six americans report history of depression. Gallup.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024, from https://news.gallup.com/poll/123821/One-Six-Americans-Report-History-Depression.aspx
Ormel, J., Cuijpers, P., Jorm, A., & Schoevers, R. A. (2020). What is needed to eradicate the depression epidemic, and why. Mental Health & Prevention, 17, 200177. Retrieved April 27, 2024, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657019300911
When were the earliest accounts of depression? (n.d.). Verywell Mind. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://www.verywellmind.com/who-discovered-depression-1066770
Why people aren’t getting the care they need. (n.d.). Https://www.apa.org. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/datapoint-care
