What it is?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent sense of sadness and a loss of interest in one’s daily activities. It is more than just being sad or going through a difficult time. When you are depressed, you are sad for weeks or months rather than just a few days. It is a serious mental health condition that necessitates understanding and medical attention.
Depression, if left untreated, can be devastating for both the person suffering from it and their families. Fortunately, if detected, diagnosed and treated early, person with depression can make a good recovery.
Anyone is likely to suffer from depression regardless of gender, race, religion, age, tribe and profession, but it does affect some groups of people more than others.
According to WHO 2017 statistics, Uganda ranked among the top six countries in rates of depression disorders in Africa with 4.6% and anxiety rating 2.9%. 5.1% of women experience depression more than men with 3.6% and young adults aged 18–25 are more likely to have depression than people aged 50 or older.
What it is not.
Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can snap out of by pulling yourself together. Just like any other illness, depression is a specific illness with specific signs and symptoms. The good news is that it can be treated and recovered from
with the right treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
- Anger, irritability, and restlessness.
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or helplessness.
- Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself.
- Feeling irritable and intolerant of others.
- Loss of interest in doing things you used to enjoy.
- Extreme sadness, or hopelessness
- Difficulty in making decisions, concentrating or remembering information
If you or anyone you know has these symptoms and needs help on how to get treatment, please feel free to call
Mental Health Uganda toll free helpline 0800212121
