10 facts and figures about depression
In this article we will describe 10 facts and figures about depression.
Key points
- Depression is a common mental disorder
- 15% of adults suffer from significant depression
- More women are affected by depression than men
- Depression can lead to suicide
- There is very effective treatment for mild, moderate and severe depression.
1. What is depression?
While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time. That is not depression. Depression is a clinical syndrome with characteristic (and predictable):
Depression is more than just a low mood. It is a serious condition that has an impact on both physical and mental health.
2. Who gets depression?
- 15% of adults experience significant depression
- Over 8 million people in the UK are taking anti-depressant tablets (over 12% of the population). It is the largest single cause of disability
- It tends to start in people 20-30 years but can come on at any age
- It is more common in women, with a female-male ratio of about 2:1.
The good news is, depression is treatable and effective treatments are available. It usually gets better .. with time. In fact, time is the best healer (see below).
The sooner a person with depression seeks support, the sooner they can recover.
We will now go through the symptoms of depression, and thus how you can tell if you have depression.
3. Symptoms
A person with depression may feel:
- Sad, miserable or unhappy
- Irritable or angry
- Overwhelmed
- Guilty
- Frustrated, lacking in confidence and indecisive
- Unable to concentrate.
Thoughts caused by depression
A person with depression may have thoughts such as:
- ‘I’m a failure.’
- ‘It’s my fault.’
- ‘Nothing good ever happens to me.’
- ‘I’m worthless.’
- ‘There is nothing good in my life.’
- ‘Things will never change.’
- ‘Life’s not worth living’ and ‘people would be better off without me.’ (suicidal thoughts)
Note. There is a significant risk of suicide with serious depression. Such thoughts should be taken seriously, and a doctor involved ASAP.
Behavioural symptoms
A person with depression may:
- Withdraw from close family and friends
- Stop going out
- Stop their usual enjoyable activities
- Not get things done at work or school
- Rely on alcohol and recreational drugs.
Physical symptoms
A person with depression may experience:
- Being tired all the time
- Feeling sick and ‘run down’
- Frequent headaches, stomach or muscle pain
- Bowel problems or loss of appetite
- Significant weight loss or gain
- Inability to sleep.
4. Causes
While the exact cause of depression is not known, a number of things can contribute to it happening.
Generally, depression does not result from a single event, but from a combination of biological, psychological, social and lifestyle factors.
Changes in the brain
There is something called the ‘monoamine hypothesis’. This suggests that there is chemical basis to depression – involving a reduction in the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the brain.
Although there has been a lot of research in this complex area, there is still much that we do not know – and this hypothesis is probably too simple. In other words, depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. However, disturbances in normal chemical messaging processes between nerve cells in the brain contribute to depression.
5. Risk factors
Personal factors that can lead to a risk of depression include:
- Family history – depression can run in families and some people will be at an increased genetic risk. However, this doesn’t mean that a person will automatically experience depression if a parent or close relative has had the condition
- Personality – some people may be more at risk because of their personality, particularly if they tend to worry a lot, have low self-esteem, are perfectionists, are sensitive to personal criticism, or are self-critical and negative
- Serious medical conditions – these can trigger depression, especially if the patient has one/more long-term management of a condition or chronic pain
- Drug and alcohol use – can both lead to and result from depression. Many people with depression have drug and alcohol problems.
Life events can trigger depression
Continuing life difficulties – such as long-term unemployment, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness or prolonged exposure to stress at work – can increase the risk of depression.
Also significant adverse life events – such as losing a job, going through a separation or divorce, or being diagnosed with a serious illness – may also trigger depression; particularly among people who are already at risk because of genetic and other factors.
6. What are NHS services are available for depression?
Quite alot actually. Most depression can be dealt with by either your GP or an NHS counsellor called an IAPT.
Primary mental healthcare
- GP. Ask the receptionist if there is a GP with a special interest in mental health at your practice, and ask to see them. You can also ask for double appointments (20 minutes). A normal one may not be long enough to deal with your issues. Alternatively ask if there is a primary care mental health worker (such as a mental health trained nurse) at the practice.
- IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy). These are NHS counsellors that offer talk therapy. There is a NHS target that says 75% of people should start treatment within 6 weeks of referral. Self referring is the quickest way to access the service but your GP can also refer you. Just ‘Google’ IAPT and your area, or your GP practice website/reception should have the contact details. This is an example of a self-referral NHS IAPT system.
Secondary mental healthcare
- Psychiatrist. This is the next step up from your GP (which is primary care). This means seeing a senior psychiatrist (a mental health specialist doctor) – either a consultant or a registrar – usually in an outpatient clinic at a psychiatric hospital. You should ask for a referral to secondary mental health services, if the treatment you are receiving is not working (such as trying two or more treatments for more than 6 weeks each)
- Mental Health Crisis Team (MHCT). You can also ask to be referred to the local MHCT for urgent treatment if you are seriously unwell – e.g. such as having thoughts to harm yourself, or experiencing hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there). Most people do not need secondary psychiatric care.
7. Treatment
5 key principles of treatment of depression
- Treatment works – depression is very treatable
- Medication – the drugs we use are powerful and effective. Use them
- Time. Depression usually gets better with time (the best healer). Time off work may be necessary (if work is part of the cause). 4 weeks minimum
- Suicidal thoughts – are serious. You need to act
- Talking is good. Encourage the patient to talk about it; with family, friends and work colleagues.
Self-help methods for depression
Self-care is how you take care of yourself through your diet, exercise, daily routine and relationships. It’s a simple way to help manage symptoms of depression. You will learn how to notice when you are becoming unwell and know what your triggers are. Mobile phone apps can be very helpful too. More about them below.
Talking therapies for depression
Talking therapies are available through the NHS (like IAPTs). You can also get talking therapy privately, some charities, and sometimes through your employer. It may be not all therapies are available in your area. Some types of therapy include:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Group therapy
- Relationship counselling
- Bereavement counselling.
The type of therapy you are offered will depend on how severe your symptoms are, and what’s causing your depression.
Medication for depression
You may be offered antidepressant tablets alongside other treatment. You can work with your doctor to find the right one for you, it is common to try different ones to find the best fit.
Common antidepressant drugs include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – examples include citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) – examples include duloxetine and venlafaxine
- Tricyclics and tricyclic-related drugs
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
It’s important to talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking your medication, because stopping suddenly can cause problems.
Brain stimulation – electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
ECT is a treatment for severe, life-threatening, depression. Or you may be given ECT if no other treatments have worked. In this treatment, an electrical current is briefly passed through your brain while you are under general anaesthetic.
8. What mobile phone apps are available for depression?
These can be very helpful in depression.
Calm. Improve your health and happiness with the calm app. It may help improve your sleep quality, reduce your anxiety and stress levels, or just improve your focus.
https://www.calm.com
Calm Harm – Self Harm. This app can help you reduce the urge to self-harm and manage your emotions in a positive way.
https://stem4.org.uk/new-calm-harm-app-features
Stay Alive. This is a suicide prevention resource packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts about suicide, or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
https://www.stay-alive-app
Virtual Hope Box
The VHB can be used to store a variety of content that users find personally supportive in times of need. It can include family photos, videos and recorded messages from loved ones, inspirational quotes, music you find especially soothing or reminders of previous successes.
https://www.my-therappy.co.uk/app/virtual-hope-box
Worry Tree
This aims to help you take control worry. You can use the app to record whatever you feel worried about. It uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques to help you notice and challenge your worries. It can also help you create an action plan for managing worry.
https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/worrytree
9. What urgent mental health support is available for depression (especially if you feel suicidal)?
- Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department – call 999 or go there
- Call NHS 111 for physical or mental health emergencies (available 24/7)
- Samaritans: call 116 123 (available 24/7)
- SHOUT 85258: text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 (available 24/7)
10. Prognosis (outlook)
The outlook is good for most patients. Depressive episodes typically last 3-6 months with treatment, and most people recover completely within 12 months.
Summary
We have described 10 facts and figures about depression. Time is a great healer, and medication is powerful and very effective. Not all patients need medication. For them, talk therapy can be effective. There is alot you and the NHS can do to help you get better.
Other resources
10 facts and figures about anxiety and panic attacks
This is good information from the NICE website
This is good advice on lifestyle changes you can make from a NZ website
