Depression
Depression affects approximately 14.8 million American adults (6.7 percent of the U.S. population) in any given year, and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44, according to the World Health Organization. It takes a huge personal and professional toll on those suffering from it, but unfortunately, far too many people suffer in silence.
While up to 80% of those treated for depression show an improvement in their symptoms within four to six weeks of beginning therapy, medication, support groups, or a combination of these treatments, an estimated 50% of those suffering with depression never actively seek or receive proper treatment.
Articles from Wellspring:
12 Tips on How to Beat the Winter Blues - R. Keith Myers, LICSW
Finding Balance in Troubled Times - Chad Perman, LMFT
Online Articles & Resources:
Use this brief automated online quiz to help you determine if you may need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment of depression—or to help track your depression/mood on a regular basis.
What is Depression? (APA)
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Recommended Readings:
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, by Andrew Solomon
Undoing Depression, by Richard O'Connor, Ph.D.
I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, by Terrence Real