One of the most common requests from people who reach out to me through email or through messaging at the Facebook page Mental Health Matters, T&T, is for direction to mental health services in T&T. Next in frequency is to point them to some resource that would help them understand if they are clinically depressed, and third, to recommend a doctor.
I’m unaware of how well the mental health “system” works here. What I know though is that I wished there was sufficient visibility, at least of the services that can be accessed for those who wish to do so.
Globally, research shows that among the quarter of the world’s population who are deemed to be living with mental health issues, depression stands out as the most common mental disorder—an estimated one in ten—and statistics show diagnoses to be growing at “an alarming rate.”
Globally, more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression, says the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to www.who.int, “depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease; more women are affected by depression than men; at its worst, depression can lead to suicide, and there are effective treatments for depression.”
What is daunting is that from among that population research says that 80 per cent of the people who exhibit symptoms of clinical depression are not receiving treatment for depression. Yet, 60–80 per cent of all depression can be treated either by psychotherapy and, or medication.
In most cultures where people do not receive effective care, barriers include a lack of resources, lack of trained health care providers, and social stigma associated with mental disorders. Another barrier to effective care is inaccurate assessment (WHO).
A US study also finds that states with higher rates of depression also show high rates of other negative health outcomes, such as obesity, heart disease, and stroke.
Individuals living with depression are more likely to be unemployed or recently divorced than their non-depressed counterparts, and women experience greater risk of depression than men.
As a global health issue, “depression awareness, diagnosis, and treatment are matters of crucial significance in building a healthier, happier world…The need for a comprehensive, co-ordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level” is an imperative says WHO (2012).
That type of advanced idea first requires T&T to give supremacy to the pressing issue of the mental health of its citizenry and, within there, consider establishing decentralised, holistic transition houses or centres (please, not clinics or facilities) where anyone can walk in at any time for an intervention of any nature.
It requires governance with the will to change our current system, the knowledge of why we should do so, and the compassion to do it.
What is depression?
Depending on the number and severity of symptoms, a depressive episode can be categorised as mild, moderate, or severe.
Both types of depression–unipolar avd bipolar–can be chronic (existing over an extended period of time) with relapses, especially if they go untreated.
Unipolar depression: in its typical depressive episodes, the person experiences depressed mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and reduced energy leading to diminished activity for at least two weeks. Many people with depression also suffer from anxiety symptoms, disturbed sleep and appetite and may have feelings of guilt or low self-worth, poor concentration and even medically unexplained symptoms.
An individual with a mild depressive episode will have some difficulty in continuing with ordinary work and social activities, but will probably not cease to function completely. During a severe depressive episode, it is very unlikely that the individual will be able to continue with social, work, or domestic activities, except to a very limited extent.
Bipolar mood disorder: this type of depression typically consists of both manic and depressive episodes separated by periods of normal mood. Manic episodes involve elevated or irritable mood, over-activity, pressure of speech, inflated self-esteem, and a decreased need for sleep. (WHO)