World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day September 10

THEME: Working Together to Prevent Suicide

KEY FACTS

Every year, 800 000 people die due to suicide

For every suicide occurrence, there are many more attempted suicides each year

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds

79% of global suicides occur in low and middle income countries[1]

Royal Victoria Medical Centre in collaboration with World Health Organisation is launching a 40 seconds of action campaign to raise awareness of the occurrence of suicide worldwide and to help prevent it.

What is Depression?

Depression is a mood disorder characterized with the feeling of despair and sadness. It is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems

Depression is an issue that should be discussed (especially in Nigeria). A high percentage of Nigerians view depression as a sad feeling that will go away, or a character flaw of personal weakness. It needs to be understood however, that depression is a serious psychiatric disorder and if not properly handled, it can lead to loss of one’s life.

The latest figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO), show that Nigeria has over 7 million (7,079,815) individuals that suffer from depression.  That is 4 percent of the nation’s population. An increase in the rate of suicide over the years can be traced to mental illness (such as Depression or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) that has likely gone undetected or untreated. And at its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

Classification of depression

Depressive episodes can be categorized based on severity into;

• Mild,

• Moderate

• Severe

 

Types of Major Depression

• Recurrent Depressive Disorder

• Bipolar Disorder

• Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Psychotic Depression

• Peripartum (Postpartum) Disorder

• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

• Situational Depression

• Atypical Depression

Risk Factors

• Traumatic or stressful even such as loss of a loved one, loss of job, unemployment, sexual abuse, anxiety, financial problems, victims of violence are more likely to develop depression

• An individual with a history of other mental health disorder such as eating disorders, post traumatic disorder, anxiety disorder, is more susceptible to depression.

• Certain personality traits such as introverts, individuals with low self-esteem, self-critical, and pessimistic thoughts are prone to depression

• Serious or chronic health issues can cause depression

• A history of depression in close family relatives

Prevention

There are various steps to take to help prevent depression;

Control stress: Find ways to handle stress and improve self-esteem

Reach out to family and friends.

Get help at the earliest sign of a problem, if you wait it could get worse.[2]

When to See a Doctor

If you feel depressed, you can make an appointment to see a doctor or mental health professional, or you can talk to a friend, loved one or a health care professional you trust. You can visit Royal Victoria Medical Centre for consultation and professional help.

[1] www.who.int

[2] www.mayocllinic.org