Living in the 21st Century, considerations and awareness are continuously spreading worldwide. One can say that societal awareness is a trend that youths practice taking a better stance in their everyday lives. Meanwhile, talks about mental health issues are being spread thoroughly and are therefore decreasing the previously approaching suicide rates in the world. Like a fire emerging from the force of a single match to the escalation of it in the entire forest, awareness is a fire that ignites all to know about the blazing knowledge of mental health issues.
Depression is a state of being extremely sad to the point of unfulfillment, low levels of productivity, and, unfortunately, suicide. With people of this generation likely open to news and world events, it may affect their thoughts and feelings, contributing to the surface of emptiness and loss. Depression has various mental symptoms one can refer to, and these include withdrawal from socialization, constant irritability and sadness, self-pity, self-loathing, and loss of interest in hobbies. The physical symptoms would be erratic sleep habits, loss or increase of appetite, constant fatigue, and body ache. However, these symptoms can be caused by other health conditions, but when they are all experienced altogether can be highly considered as depression.
There are causes that a person experiences that ultimately lead to depression. These are personal trauma, stress from school and society, failed relationships, and job loss. It could also be genetic, stemming from the history of the patient's family. Certain medications also cause depression, so medical doctors should always prescribe medications. These causes may be shared and experienced once or twice, but it does not necessarily mean that one has depression. Remember that there are people with different levels of emotional strength that no one can generalize.
Depression is an inevitable state of being that is a common and significant problem in today's society. World problems affect individuals aside from their personal and professional ones. However, sadness and depression must be legally characterized and assessed by a person. In today's times, depression is a word that is most commonly heard and used in day-to-day life. Generation Z often uses this word to express feelings of unproductivity and loneliness. Nevertheless, this word must not be tossed around without perceiving much thought to and the people it impacts.
Depression can lead to self-isolation due to social conflict with family and friends. It could lead one to be unfulfilled and undervalue themselves. A person experiencing depression can think their feelings, emotions, and opinions would be unimportant. School or work productivity can also be affected by depression. People with depression can invalidate themselves often, which leads to intensified sadness. This is why one must dismiss this behavior of a depressive acquaintance to stop this cycle and refer them to a psychological company.
There are certain medications to fight depression that a legal doctor must prescribe, and it is called antidepressants. In addition, a patient could be addicted, dependent, withdrawn, and overdosed by this because of their depressive urges. Caution must be observed at all times to minimize the side effects of this drug. Therapies must be first considered in helping a patient with depression. These practices do not have side effects but may be costly yet effective.
As a student with a first-hand experience with this condition, I know that circumstances make one have such negative thoughts. Struggles within the family, social circles, and school community can lead to mental health issues. In addition to all the information written above, there are no shapes and forms that a person should have to be categorized as depressed. And depression also approaches the youth, young adults, adults, and elders. Therefore, no one could generalize and immediately diagnose themselves with depression or any condition. Awareness indeed spread like a fire in the woods, burning all the triggered confusion of society, and that rain of action could flare the fire more evidently.
Reference:
Hamilton, M. (1960). A RATING SCALE FOR DEPRESSION. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 23(1), 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.23.1.56