By: Ma. Chezsa Rose Feren

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Depression is a common disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and losing an interest in everything. It also known as a major depressive disorder or clinical depression. It affects your behaviour, feeling and how you think. It can also lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. People who is experiencing depression may have a difficulty in doing a daily activities and sometimes they feel as if life isn’t worth living anymore so they tend to end their lives.
Depression may occur most of the day, nearly everyday and it includes a sleep disturbance, including insomnia or sleeping too much. A person who is depressed also often has feelings of guilt, worthless and helplessness. They no longer take interest in their hobbies and activities that can make them happy, may include going out with friend or family, playing online games, and etc.
Overeating or weight loss can be symptoms of depression. Other experiencing a fatigue, decreases energy and constant feeling of being “slowed down”. Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon in those suffering from severe depression. Restless and irritability among those who have depression is common. A person who is depressed also has a difficulty concentrating, remembering, and trouble making decision and sometimes, persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to traditional treatment such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain may be signs of a depression illness.

“Major depression is prevalent, affecting about 10% of the population and growing. This a risk factor for CHD has been characterized from mild depressive symptoms to a clinical diagnosis of major depression. Major depression is defined by depressed mood or anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure) for less than 2 weeks accompanied by significant functional impairment and additional somatic or cognitive symptoms. The prevalence of depression is 15–30% in patients with CHD and is approximately twice as high in women than men, and particularly affecting young women who have a high mortality post-myocardial infarction. Higher degrees of depression are associated with higher risk.” (Vaccarino, Badimon & Bremmer, 2019).
In summary: psychologist should be aware of the high prevalence of depression. Parents must be guide and monitor their children to prevent thoughts of death or suicide and parents must have courage to have a long term of medication or undergo psychotherapy to lessen the case of depression.

Mayo Clinic. (n.d). Depression (major depressive disorder). Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007?fbclid=IwAR3Lnja406IfpfI7rsFKOBFjvnnHZqZ9FeGVp5FxdUqr1ejrks1rqMgxA3c
Vaccarino V., Badimon L., & Bremmer JD. (2019, February 09). ESC position
paper on depression and CHD. Retrieved from https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2019/02/07/10/07/depression-and-coronary-heart-disease-2018-esc?fbclid=IwAR3ICntOT8nwqDGeaBiziyERQGhq2dkb2frv50-icXRhdL10fW30TcH7p1U
Grohol J. (2019, January 24). Introduction to depression. Retrieved from
https://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/introduction-to-depression/