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Tuesday, 15 November 2011 12:03 |
Depression isn't a normal part of life.. While the symptoms of depression can be different for different people, the common factor is they disrupt lives and affect us all. The costs to healthcare and disability is staggering. The economic cost of mental illnesses, of which depression is one was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 - $4.7 billion in care and $3.2 billion in disability and early death. Additionally, $6.8 billion was spent on uninsured mental health services and time off work for depression and distress which was not treated by the health care system.
Clinical depression or unipolar disorder is the most common type of depressive mood disorder. It is estimated approximately 8 percent of Canadians will experience a major depression within their lifetime. Twice as many women suffer from depression versus men.
Mood disorders like clinical depression vary from person to person but there are some common symptoms of depression. If you or someone you know has two or more of the following symptoms and they are present for more than two weeks in duration it may be time to consult your doctor.
Signs of depression can include: feelings of sadness or hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in weight or appetite, insomnia or fatigue, lack of motivation and feeling like moving takes great effort, feeling restless and unable to sit still, anxiety, feeling unworthy or guilty without obvious reason, having problems concentrating, remembering or making decisions, thinking often about death or suicide.
While depression is an illness, there is good news. Most people with depression improve with treatment. The unfortunate reality is almost one half (49 percent) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about their problem.
A program from the Canadian Mental Health Association called Bounce Back seeks to remove some of the barriers preventing those who need it most from seeking treatment and intervention. The program offers a unique treatment approach for BC residents and provides needed support for those diagnosed with depression who are wanting to reclaim their lives. According to Tammy Lawson, a community coach for the Bounce Back program in Northern BC, there is no charge to participate. However, in order to be considered eligible for the program a physician or nurse practitioner's referral is required.
Bounce Back offers two forms of help. The first of which is a DVD which provides practical advice to help manage mood, build confidence, problem solve and guide healthy living strategies. Beyond the DVD self guided learning modules and telephone support sessions with a community couch are also available.
There are 16 separate workbooks in total featuring a wide range of topic areas and participants can decide to work on whichever of those they choose based on the priorities they have identified for themselves and their needs.
Linda Black who is one of the 1300 Northern BC residents who has benefited from the program feels her experience with the program has been life changing. She found the resources of the program from the DVD to the coaching to the workbooks invaluable and commented that while she has completed her formal participation with the program she continually consults the workbooks and finds them valuable reminders to help her to get back on track when she needs to.
There is no known way to prevent depression from happening but experts contend it may be helpful to find strategies for reducing stress in your life, getting regular exercise and sleep and reaching out to family and friends for support. If you think you might be depressed get help as quickly as possible. Talk to your doctor about Bounce Back or visit the CMHA website for more information.
For more information about Bounce Back call the Canadian Mental Health Association at 250-562-3565 or visit their website at www.bouncebackbc.ca.
If you are interested in the Bounce Back program, please talk to your family doctor.
Written By: Sherry Ogasawara, RD
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