According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
- Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression.
- Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
- More women are affected by depression than men.
- Depression can lead to suicide, responsible for more than 47,500 deaths in the US, which is about one death every 11 minutes.
- There are effective psychological and pharmacological treatments for moderate and severe depression.
- The CDC developed a suicide protection program available HERE.
If you want to know how much the current world we live in is affecting the collective mental health, try scheduling a mental health visit. Anxiety and depression are so common that it’s almost impossible to find a mental health provider. Virtual visits are rising like the S&P 500 in a Bull Market.
People tend to prefer taking off their clothes and be seen naked physically than to bare their minds and be seen emotionally. So it takes a lot for a person to admit they have an emotional problem that needs help.
There are several types of depression and it can happen at any age. Some people think depression is a sign of weakness, or they should just shrug it off. But that’s not the case. Depression is a medical illness, and like diabetes and high blood pressure, it can be treated. That’s what Art Buchwald did. With treatment, he fought serious depression, and became one of the greatest humorists in the country.
We all get down here and there, and nearly everyone has the blues along the way. That’s not what I’m talking about. But, if you’ve got the blues more than two weeks, and it’s making you feel black and blue and really beating you up, and you can’t shake it, can’t sleep, can’t get up for school or work or just to live your day, notice a change in appetite, can’t concentrate, especially if you’re thinking of hurting yourself; No matter what, see your doctor or mental health provider and treat it so you can beat it.
Today’s Music Monday is a song called Depression. As you might expect, it’s in the style of the blues. Lyrics, vocals and guitar by Mache Seibel, Ben Schwendener on piano, Bridget Kearney on Bass, and Mike Calabrese on drums. CLICK HERE to listen. To here my entire Amp Up Your Mental Health album, visit HealthRock.Bandcamp.com/music.
