Nollywood actress Alex Okoroji recently revealed that she has suffered from depression.
Taking note of Mental Health Awareness week (12th-18th May) she encouraged others not to suffer in silence but to reach out and get help while sharing her own strategy to overcome it. Traditionally seen as a taboo subject on the continent, there are no concrete statistics on the prevalence of depression amongst Nigerians but it is estimated to affect between 20 to 40 per cent of the population. Unfortunately there is still stigma attached to mental illness, with some believing it is the result of an evil spirit or charms, such beliefs may stop people back from seeking treatment.
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Everyone has down days but depression is more than that. It is persistently feeling low or sad for weeks, at times months. Clinical depression is not something one can ‘snap out of’ it requires help.
Depression ranges in severity, mild depression is described as having some impact on daily activities, moderate depression has a substantial impact on daily activities, and severe depression severely disrupts daily life, making ordinary activity extremely difficult if not impossible.
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?
There is no one cause of depression. It can develop at any time for any reason. There may be triggers, such as a big life change, a series of stressful events or an illness. Family history or an over reliance and drugs and alcohol may also lead to depression.
SYMPTOMS
Depression affects people in different ways but some symptoms can include:
- trouble sleeping
- feeling hopeless
- feeling tearful
- lack of appetite
- having no interest in things
- having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming other people
- feeling anxious
- feeling tired
- feeling irritable around others
OTHER TYPES OF DEPRESSION
- Postnatal depression: After having a baby some women develop depression which can be treated with antidepressants or talk therapy
- Bipolar disorder also known as Manic Depression: A type of depression where there are times of extremely high moods and extremely low moods. The low moods are similar to clinical depression, whereas the high moods can include indulging in reckless behaviour such as unsafe sex and gambling.
HOW TO GET HELP
If you feel as though you may be depressed it’s important to see a doctor, especially if:
- symptoms are not improving
- you have thoughts of suicide
The sooner you see a doctor the sooner your depression can be treated, you don’t have to suffer in silence.
TREATMENT
The type of treatment you’re given depends on the type and severity of the depression you have. In cases of mild depression, exercise may be suggested as well as talking to a therapist, in more severe cases antidepressants may be prescribed. The most important thing is to take the first step and seek help.
For more information about depression and Mental Health Awareness week visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
Image: feminspire.com