What is Depression?
Depression affects your mood and affects the way you feel, think, and behave.
When a person has depression, it makes you become negative and not make good decisions (Zhang, et al., 2018). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 34.2% of adults in Texas reported depression compared to 31.6% of adults across the United States (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022). Over the past three years, adults in Texas, between 18-29, had depression. See Figure 1 below for more information.
When a person has depression, it makes you become negative and not make good decisions (Zhang, et al., 2018). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 34.2% of adults in Texas reported depression compared to 31.6% of adults across the United States (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022). Over the past three years, adults in Texas, between 18-29, had depression. See Figure 1 below for more information.
Figure 1
Symptoms |
Causes |
There are several symptoms of depression. Some symptoms include, but are not limited to:
|
The causes of depression are unknown. Depression can be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2022-a). Every individual can have different causes of depression. A person experiencing depression can be linked to using alcohol or drugs, taking certain medications, having a stroke, cancer, or pain for a long period of time, experiencing a major life change, trauma, or stressful events, or having blood relatives that have depression (CDC - a).
|
Unfortunately, depression in adults can go
untreated because people don't want to
receive help (Mayo Clinic, 2022).
untreated because people don't want to
receive help (Mayo Clinic, 2022).
Depression in Black women
Figure 2
Adapted from Texas Health Data, (n.d). Behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/surveys-and-profiles/behavioral-risk-factor-surveillance-system
Figure 3
Depression Monitoring
Depression affects millions of people, and you must have many visits with your doctor. The 2 main watch tools are population surveys and healthcare surveys which allow professionals to see how often depression occurs, risk factors, and use of mental health services (CDC, 2011). The Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys by state through talking on the phone and receiving information about behaviors, prevention, and access to health care on a large range of topics including mental health (CDC). This helps doctors come up with better solutions to avoid depression. Figure 2 above is an excellent example of data government agencies can collect to figure out how to help us with health issues.
Summary.
Depression affects your brain and anyone can have depression. The symptoms and causes are not the same for each person. Depression in women is more common than in men. Depression is more common in White women, but Black women are not as likely to receive help. It is important to get help so you can get back your mental health. If you, or anyone you know are suffering from depression, know that you are not alone, and there are many ways to get help regardless of your race, age, or gender. Depression is treatable.
Depression affects your brain and anyone can have depression. The symptoms and causes are not the same for each person. Depression in women is more common than in men. Depression is more common in White women, but Black women are not as likely to receive help. It is important to get help so you can get back your mental health. If you, or anyone you know are suffering from depression, know that you are not alone, and there are many ways to get help regardless of your race, age, or gender. Depression is treatable.