Have you ever heard the term "silent killer"? Do you know what it means? The phrase silent killer refers to an illness that has no outward symptoms that can cause death to people. Depression is an example of the phrase. This is because everyone ignores the signs of when people are in pain. Even individuals that suffer from depression ignore it or just do not even realize they have it. This is a sad and troubling truth that needs to be addressed.
The dictionary definition of depression is as quoted, "A mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep." A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Services shows that as many as one in 33 children and one in eight adolescents have clinical depression.
Some people think it means feeling sad every once in awhile, and this is a dangerous misconception. Depression lingers throughout a person's life and never fully goes away, which causes people that suffer from depression to turn to drugs, self harm, and even suicide. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that about 20% of Americans that have a mental disorder, such as depression, also have a history of substance abuse. Another study shows that about 15% of people who are clinically depressed take their own lives.
There are several other studies that have been conducted linking depression to other diseases, such as one statistic by the National Institute of Mental Health that shows that people who have depression are four times as likely to have a heart attack than those who do not have depression.
How do we treat depression and help those who suffer from it? A change can be formed by even doing something as small as talking to a friend or family member that has been exhibiting unusual behavior like irregular sleep patterns, mood swings, loss of interest, and more. Changes on bigger scales can be done by not only donating to mental health and suicide prevention associations, but also by raising our voices to speak out about topics like depression that are apparently examples of the phrase "an elephant in the room." I encourage people of power, such as celebrities, the president and the government, and other people who have a platform, to speak up and spread knowledge about serious issues to society. If we all speak louder, I can guarantee that the statistics related to depression will plummet.
