From Blue to YouFrom Blue to You

Women and DepressionWomen and Depression

VignetteVignette

Meet MaryMeet Mary

What’s going on with Mary? What’s going on with Mary? • Mary cannot remember good times or Mary cannot remember good times or

when she has felt wellwhen she has felt well

• She does not have any motivation or She does not have any motivation or energyenergy

• Her relationships with her family are Her relationships with her family are sufferingsuffering

• She is irritableShe is irritable

• She has lost interest in sex, hobbies, and She has lost interest in sex, hobbies, and friendsfriends

• She is not eating and losing weight She is not eating and losing weight

• She is having sleeping difficultiesShe is having sleeping difficulties

What’s going on with Mary? What’s going on with Mary?

What is depression? What is depression?

• A mental disorder or illness A mental disorder or illness

• Involves the body, mood, and thoughtsInvolves the body, mood, and thoughts

Is depression common? Is depression common?

• Yes. Yes.

• Approximately 7 million women in the Approximately 7 million women in the United States have clinical depression.United States have clinical depression.

What are the symptoms?

• Physical symptoms

• Emotional symptoms

• Psychosocial symptoms

StigmaStigma

• Prevents women from seeking treatment

– Afraid of others knowing

– Feelings of failure or weakness

Treatment

• There is treatment available for MaryThere is treatment available for Mary

• Talk therapy

• Medication therapy

• Combination: talk and medication therapy

• Address mental, social, and environmental Address mental, social, and environmental roots of depressionroots of depression

• Involve familyInvolve family

• Cognitive Behavioral TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy

Talk therapyTalk therapy

Medication therapyMedication therapy

• SSRIsSSRIs

• Side effects do occurSide effects do occur

• Talk to doctor about the right choiceTalk to doctor about the right choice

Combination therapy

• Talk therapy plus medicationTalk therapy plus medication

• Consistently shown to be most effectiveConsistently shown to be most effective

Where to go for helpWhere to go for help

• Health care professionalHealth care professional

• Social servicesSocial services

• OnlineOnline

OnlineOnline– Support groupsSupport groups

http://forums.psychcentral.com/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=depression– Chat roomsChat rooms

http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/depression/forums/a/frm/f/3981011– BlogsBlogs

http://depression.about.com/ – WebsitesWebsites

http://www.depression.com

If you were Mary’s family member, If you were Mary’s family member, what could you do to help?what could you do to help?

• Get helpGet help

• Encourage her to Encourage her to stick with treatmentstick with treatment

• Offer emotional Offer emotional supportsupport

• Invite her to do things Invite her to do things

• Plan and prepare Plan and prepare healthy mealshealthy meals

• Do not accuse Mary Do not accuse Mary of faking an illness or of faking an illness or expect her "to snap expect her "to snap out of it." out of it."

What to do if you think you have What to do if you think you have depressiondepression

• Get professional helpGet professional help

• Don’t bottle things upDon’t bottle things up

• Keep activeKeep active

• Avoid alcohol and drugsAvoid alcohol and drugs

• Don’t get upset if you can’t sleepDon’t get upset if you can’t sleep

• Do something you enjoy Do something you enjoy

• Review your lifestyleReview your lifestyle

• Take a breakTake a break

• Eat properlyEat properly

• Read about depressionRead about depression

References• Beyond Blue (2008). What is Depression. Retrieved from www.beyondblue.org • Bhatia, S.C. & Bhatia, S.K. (1999). Depression in Women: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations. American

Family Physician, 60, 1, 225-240. http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/women.asp• Duckworth, K. (2006). About mental illness: Depression. Retrieved from

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23039&lstid=326

• Frank, E., Novick, D., & Masalehdan, A. (2003). About mental illness: Depression in women. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=61089

• Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/MH00035

• Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175• Mayo Clinic Staff (2008). Depression: Supporting loved ones through their battle with depression. Retrieved from

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/MH00016• NIMH (2008). How Do Women Experience Depression? Retrieved from

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/how-do-women-experience-depression.shtml• Nutrition Health Center (2008). Depression Statistics Information. Retrieved from http://www.add-adhd-help-

center.com/Depression/statistics.htm

Copyright © 2010 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

Leigh Ann Simmons; MFT, PhDformer Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Family Studies

Ester Edwards, BSGraduate studentDepartment of Family Studies

Leslie Crofford, MDProfessor, College of Medicine

April 2010

Health Education through Extension Leadership The development of the HEEL program was made possible by Senator Mitch McConnell with funds earmarked for the University of Kentucky, College o f Agriculture, Lexington Ky. and budgeted through the CSREES/USDA Federal Administration.

For More Information…

www.bluetoyou.org