Special Report: Depression
Depression is a common mental health disorder which affects over 120 million people worldwide. However, most people are still not aware of the extent of this mental health issue, nor the treatments that are currently available.
Improving such awareness, and providing counsellors with specific knowledge on the topic, is what this ‘Special Reports’ Series will be all about.
Historical Background (source: wikipedia)
The Ebers papyrus (c.a. 1550 BC) contains a short description of clinical depression. Though full of incantations and foul applications meant to turn away disease-causing demons and other superstition, it also evinces a long tradition of empirical practice and observation.
The modern idea of depression appears similar to the much older concept of melancholia. The name melancholia derives from ‘black bile’, one of the ‘four humours’ postulated by Galen.
Clinical depression was originally considered to be a chemical imbalance in transmitters in the brain, a theory based on observations made in the 1950s of the effects of reserpine and isoniazid in altering monoamine neurotransmitter levels and affecting depressive symptoms. Since these suggestions, many other causes for clinical depression have been proposed.
Awareness of Depression
In a survey conducted in October 2002 with 2,000 Australians aged over 18 years, depression and general mental health problems were not included in the context of health. The surveyed were asked about the major health problems in Australia, and the responses included coronary heart disease, obesity and Cancer - but excluded depression. (Mathers, Vos, Stevenson 1999)
In the context of mental health, however, depression is perceived to be a major health problem. Similar to suicide and schizophrenia statistics, most people fail to observe the extent of the problem and are not aware of the number of people that suffer from depression. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression affects about 121 million people worldwide, being one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.
In further posts we will discuss the prevalence of mood disorders; phenomenology of depression; aetiology of depression; assessment of depression (including suicide assessment); and current treatments and prevention strategies.
The “Special Report: Depression” series was based on Counselling Academy’s ‘Depression’ online Professional Development course. For more information, visit www.counsellingacademy.com.au.
Follow-Up Posts:
- Mood Disorders - Facts and Figures
- Phenomenology Of Depression
- Aetiology Of Depression
- Assessment Of Depression, Part 1
- Assessment Of Depression, Part 2
- Suicide Assessment
- Treatment for Depression
Related Series: Eating Disorders - Series, Parenting a Problem Adolescent, Losing a Loved One
