Early identification and treatment beats depression
armers Australia-wide are facing an
uncertain future as a result of
deregulation, plummeting prices and even the
decision of whether to stay in farming, all of
which can lead to depression.
According to Australia’s first national
survey of mental health, one in three
Australians will develop depression at some
time but often the sufferer and the community
fail to recognise the condition.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
1998 survey found only 38 per cent of those
suffering from symptoms relating to mental
disorders sought any form of health service to
deal with their problems.
In the most extreme cases, without
treatment, clinical depression can lead to
suicide, an increasing problem in young
males, especially in the rural community.
Community denial of depression is prevalent,
as is a need for education about depression as
an illness and how to treat it.
depression is reactive, seen to being triggered
by traumatic life events.
What is depression?
Other conditions and depression
F
People often use the word ‘depressed’ when
they are feeling sad. This is a normal and
generally shortlived human experience.
Clinical depression is an abnormal state
lasting for weeks or months. People affected
cannot control the way they feel and are
unable ‘to snap out of it’ no matter how much
they may want to. Symptoms can include:
• A depressed mood for longer than two
weeks.
• A loss of interest or pleasure in most
activities.
• Significant change in weight or appetite.
• Being unable to sleep or needing
excessive sleep.
• Agitation or lethargy.
• Loss of sexual drive.
• Fatigue or loss of energy.
• Lack of concentration.
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Types of depression
There are two main types of depression:
unipolar (depression only) or bipolar, where
the person swings from periods of deep
depression to episodes of mania characterised
by extreme mood elevation, over-activity,
reduced need for sleep and loss of inhibitions.
The person may feel well and often may talk
about being ecstatic.
The main types of unipolar depression are
major depressive disorder, which generally
involves five or more of the symptoms listed
occurring for at least two weeks, and
dysthymia, a chronic condition lasting more
than one to two years. In the past, mental
health professionals have also referred to
endogenous and exogenous depression.
Endogenous depression is when there is no
obvious external cause, while exogenous
FARMING AHEAD No. 119 - November 2001
TABLE 1 Who to contact
Organisation
State
Phone
Lifeline
National
13 1114
Kids Help Line
National
1800 55 1800
Mental health services
Australian Capital
Territory
1800 62 9354
Salvo Care Line
New South Wales
(02) 9331 6000
Mental health services
Northern Territory
(08) 8999 4988
24-hour information and
counselling service
Queensland
1800 17 7833
Crisis Care
South Australia
13 1611
Community Resource Centre
Tasmania
1800 80 8890
Department of Health
Victoria
1800 06 6247
Crisis Care
Western Australia
1800 19 9008
A number of conditions, both physical and
mental, often occur together with depression.
The most common of these is anxiety, which
occurs in 80% of people with depression,
according to the ABS survey.
Depression is often accompanied by anxiety
symptoms such as agoraphobia (a fear of open
spaces or going out in public), panic attacks
and general anxiety, so a person with
depression frequently has palpitations,
headaches, shortness of breath and continual
‘butterflies’ in the stomach. Depression may
also contribute to or result from physical
conditions and disabilities. People suffering
serious injuries or conditions such as
cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer
often show depressive symptoms.
1998. About 10–15% of women suffer a
major depressive episode, which may become
evident months or even a year after the birth.
Pregnancy and parenthood are stressful for
a mother and her partner. Difficulties in
coping with the daily trials of parenthood are
often perceived as normal. Overlooking an
underlying problem of depression can result in
the mother feeling inadequate, disrupt the
bonding process, and place undue stress on
the relationship with a partner. Recognising
risk factors and seeking help are important for
mother, baby and family.
The elderly
The prevalence of depression generally
decreases with age, many elderly people can
still be at risk of depression. Elderly people in
nursing homes are particularly at risk of
depression, often because they could also be
physically or mentally unwell.
Youth suicide
Treatment
Youth suicide has emerged as a major social
issue in Australia, recently challenging road
accidents as the leading cause of death among
males aged 15–24. Some theories suggest
youth are experiencing more stress due to the
complexity and pressures of their lifestyles.
In any suicide there will be a complex
mixture of contributing factors but many
potential suicide victims give warning signs.
Warning signs include: statements mentioning
suicide; previous suicide attempts; long
periods of depression (crying, sleeplessness,
loss of appetite); sudden behavioural changes
(withdrawal, moodiness, apathy); drawing or
sketching morbid or death-like scenes
involving a character similar to the artist; and
giving away possessions.
Depression is usually treatable and the
first step is recognition of the problem. A visit
to a general practitioner is the best place to
start. Many depression sufferers will respond
to cognitive-behavioural therapy alone but in
other cases anti-depressant medication
may be needed. Most Australians believe
anti-depressants are addictive and harmful but
this is not the case. Modern anti-depressants
are generally non-addictive, have fewer
side-effects and do not cause significant harm
even in overdose.
Treatment may also include psychotherapy,
with the most common form being cognitivebehavioural therapy, which addresses the
negative thinking styles which become a fixed
pattern in depression. Cognitive-behavioural
therapy focuses on helping the person to
understand their thinking styles and to
reframe them more positively.
This is an extract from a special report
from the HCF Health Report.
Post-natal depression
Depression after childbirth is poorly
recognised by health care professionals
according to a report issued by the National
Health and Medical Research Council during
9
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Awareness
Mental health