There's no shame about suffering depression - the secret is early and correct diagnosis and treatment.

At some point in your life, you'll probably know someone with depression - it might even be you. According to beyondblue, one in five Australians suffer from depression during their life, yet less than half seek help.

This is due to the stigma surrounding depression. A mental illness report released by SANE Australia has also found that three in four people don't recognise the early warning signs. 'It's sobering to learn that in 2007, people may not seek help for early symptoms of mental illness for fear of being ridiculed, isolated or losing their job,' says Barbara Hocking, executive director of SANE Australia. 'Mental illness is real and needs real treatment. This stigma is particularly tragic as we know early intervention for mental illness is crucial to reduce the number of people who die by suicide.'

What is depression?
Depression is a mental illness that can be mild to severe. 'It's a condition that can be debilitating and affect a person's ability
to function day to day,' says Nicole Highet, deputy CEO of beyondblue. 'To qualify for a diagnosis of depression you need to experience a number of symptoms for two weeks or more, and these include things like a persistent low mood, a loss of interest orpleasure in life, changes in appetite and weight, sleep disturbance and negative thinking. Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness are common. So depression is much more than having a bad day or going through a bad patch.'

Warning signs
Beyondblue says a person experiencing some of the following symptoms for more than two weeks should see a GP for advice:

• Feeling sad, down or miserable often.

• Loss of interest in your usual activities.

• Withdrawal from family and friends.

• Relying on alcohol or sedatives.

• Inability to concentrate.

• Having thoughts such as 'I'm a failure,' or 'Life's not worth living.'

• Feeling overwhelmed, irritable, frustrated, disappointed, tired and run-down.

• Having headaches and muscle pains or significant weight loss or gain.

To complete an online depression checklist, visit www.beyondblue.org.au.

Getting help
Depression can be treated, and may involve a combination of psychological treatment and medication, such as antidepressants, which are not addictive.

Psychological treatment often includes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), where people learn to challenge negative and irrational thoughts and replace them with positive thinking. CBT is delivered by specially trained GPs or clinical psychologists.
'In at least 90 per cent of cases, people with depression recover,' Nicole says.

'If a person has more serious depression, it may be important to start with medication as their depression can limit their ability to benefit from and engage in psychological treatments. There are things people can do themselves to prevent or help treat depression, such as exercising and staying connected to friends. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain that build a positive mood.'

DEPRESSION: WHO IS AFFECTED?

Depression is triggered by various factors, including genetics. 'Just as people are more prone to diabetes due to genetics, some people are more predisposed to depression,' Nicole Highet says.

Other factors include stressful life events and coping ability. 'You can have identical twins with the same genetic make-up, but they have different life experiences and a different ability to cope - one will get depression and the other won't,' Nicole says. 'Some people are more resilient.'

The drought is one such stressful event. Rural Australians are twice as likely to call the SANE Australia helpline as people in metropolitan areas. 'Depending on their genetic make-up, support systems and coping mechanisms, some people will be at greater risk of depression in drought-affected communities,' Nicole says.

'Rural communities usually have a strong sense of connection and support, but there's less access to health services and the high stigma associated with depression can prevent people going to their GP in their local town. I've heard of people in rural Australia driving long distances to another town to get help for depression because they're ashamed.'

Where to get Help
See your family GP, and for more information call 1800 187 263, or visit www.sane.org. Visit www.beyondblue.org.au, or call Lifeline's Just Ask line on 1300 131 114.

By Sarah Marinos

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