One thing that needs to be pressed is the SOCIAL AND FAMIEAL EFFECTS on someone suffering from Depression.
Parental Depression Takes Toll on Kids
http://www.livescience.com/healthday/603203.html
Since it isn't an "Illness" that you can see, I am CONSTANTLY being told "Think happy thoughts and you won't be sad anymore!" and "It is all in your head, (duh!) so just snap out of it!"
I've even been told that I'm just exaggerating how bad I feel so I have an excuse to be lazy...
Also, the PHYSICAL effects of depression!
There are studies about how stress, depression, and physical pain PHYSICALLY SHRINK THE BRAIN!
Chronic Pain Shrinks People's Brains
http://www.livescience.com/041122_brain_pain.html
Depression Ups Heart Failure Death Risk
http://www.livescience.com/healthday/602962.html
Depression causes pain throughout the body, specifically in the joints.
Headaches are VERY common…
Sleep disturbances and insomnia are practically universal…
Not to mention the rolls that genetics play in mental illness. (I inherited mine from my mother’s side of the family, exacerbated by the abuse because of her substance abuse problem as she attempted to cope with chronic pain combined with multiple mental illnesses)
Of Mice and Bullies: Scientists Help Rodents Cope
http://www.livescience.com/animals/060209_mouse_depression.html
Then there is the Suicide Factor! The average statistic for people diagnosed with depression committing suicide is 20%.
There are over THIRTY THOUSAND SUICIDES IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE each and every year. There are, on average, about TWO MILLION suicides in the world each year. (And this doesn't count the suicides that are counted as "Natural Causes" or "Accidents")
Children of Suicide:
http://www.geocities.com/mpas1989/sim2.html
Suicide Forum:
http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/44/Suicide.html
CDC Podcast:
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=4206
In 2003, 31,484 suicides occurred in the United States, and suicide was the fourth leading cause of death among persons aged 10--64 years and the second and third leading causes of death among persons aged 25--34 and 10--24 years. To assess the contribution of substance use to suicide, CDC analyzed test results of suicide victims in 13 states. Findings indicated that 33.3% of the victims tested positive for alcohol, and 16.4% were positive for opiates (heroin or prescription pain medications).
Health Care in total and mental health care in particular are almost non-existent in the United States... I've been going to clinics trying to get therapy for YEARS but every place I go is just overwhelmed with applicants that can't afford to go anywhere else...
Then you include the Substance Abuse Problems that happen because of the lack of proper medical care leading to the self-medicating.
Sigh… I’m getting depressed just thinking about it!
