Is A Depression Epidemic A Real Medical Event?

If you've heard the term depression epidemic, you may have furrowed your brow and cocked your head. Can depression truly be an epidemic? When you think of an epidemic, you likely imagine a physical illness that spreads from person to person. How could a mental illness be used in conjunction with an epidemic? Isn't depression a condition that can't be transferred? It's a question that has a lot of people wondering. Is it real? Is it medically or scientifically correct? Only facts will help to determine the answers to these questions.

Qualities of an epidemic

According to the CDC, an epidemic is a rapid rise in the total instances of a particular disease. They also state that it may be transferred from person to person. This may remind you of the influenza epidemic or the Black Death. However, the disease can be spread in various ways, so other forms of disease might not be ruled out so quickly. The CDC identifies four patterns in which an epidemic can spread: common source, propagated, mixed, and others. Examining each category's meaning may help determine if a depression epidemic is a real medical event.

Common source

Common source is exactly as it sounds—all infected persons were subjected to the disease by the same cause. On a small scale, imagine a standard cold in a single-family home. An individual develops symptoms and gets the cold first. Then, others in the household catch a cold from the same person. This is a simple way of describing a common source outbreak.

Propagated

A propagated epidemic is one that has spread directly from person to person. Imagine the germs of an infected person transferring to another person via a handshake. When the second person shakes hands with another person, spreading the germs to them as well, it's considered a propagated outbreak. A line can often be traced from person to person, indicating where the disease originated from.

Mixed

A mixed outbreak is one that has spread in both common source and propagated ways. When the family from the above example leaves their home and is in direct contact with others, each individual can spread their illness to the people they come into contact with. This is a common way to spread disease and often results in a vast number of ill individuals.

Other

There are other ways in which disease is spread. It doesn't have to be from person to person or from a common source. Many illnesses can be airborne or from a different source altogether. Preventing this kind of outbreak is more challenging than others.

Qualities of depression

When you think of depression, it's unlikely that you think it is possible to spread from person to person. Depression is a mental illness that can't be caught by shaking hands with a depressed individual. Does this mean that the qualities of depression suggest it to be a disease that cannot be part of an epidemic? Exploring various parts of depression might make the answer clearer.

Depression as a contagious disease

As mentioned above, depression can't necessarily be caught from a simple person-to-person interaction. That doesn't mean, however, that depression can't spread from person to person. When you spend a lot of time with someone, their depressed mood can certainly rub off on you. Think about how empathetic individuals cry when a friend cries. When someone is irritable, you, too, can begin feeling irritable. The same goes for depression in many cases.

Depression is a mental illness that requires long-term sadness and various other symptoms to be diagnosed. Although you might start feeling depressed when spending time with someone in their own depressive state, you can't be sure that you have depression until several months have passed and other criteria are met.

Depression starts at a young age

Depression can drive people away

A 2006 study shows depression might not spread so much as drive people away. Although it may be disappointing, this results from oversharing negative feelings and problems with friends. This suggests that depression is not an epidemic in the traditional sense. However, the study could very well be out of date.

With recent movements in the mental health world to destroy the stigma of depression and other mental health issues, a similar study might show completely different results today. People tend to be far more caring about mental health and friends who experience a depressive episode than in the past. People with depression are no longer as alone as they once were. Has this kind of acceptance led to a depression epidemic?

What is a depression epidemic?

You have likely gathered that a depression epidemic is a widespread occurrence of depression. Comparing depression to some of the components of an epidemic may bring forth the possibility that a depression epidemic is a real and concerning event. The factors that match up to current levels of depression to an epidemic include the following:

• Increase in depression diagnoses
• More suicides than in previous years*
• Boost in antidepressant use
• Campaigns to normalize depression
• People with depression knowing other people with depression
• May be considered an "other" source of an epidemic

If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988 and is available 24/7.

Several factors suggest that depression has become a true epidemic. Having said that, is it really considered a medical event? Or, is the depression epidemic simply a hip new term being used by people for over-diagnosing mental illness?

Is a depression epidemic real in the medical world?

Depression is a real and sometimes scary mental illness accepted by medicine and science. The question remains, however, is a depression epidemic also medically accepted. In truth, this proposed question has medical professionals on opposite sides. Many believe that a depression epidemic is a medical event that must be stopped. Others believe that the so-called epidemic results from over-diagnosing depression and over-prescribing antidepressants.

Recent years have proven that depression is more common. Many believe that the numbers haven't changed so much as the acceptability. While individuals hid mental illness in the past, getting rid of the mental illness stigma may have encouraged patients to seek help as needed. It's a difficult point to measure, as many variables are involved. Future studies and research may help determine the existence of an epidemic or a normalization of the disease.

When you look at the facts, whether or not you side with those who believe in the epidemic or those who don't, the truth is that many people are living with depression. Finding ways to help or to get help is what is important in this instance. Getting treatment for depression might help to stop an epidemic, but it can also help individuals.

Stopping depression in its tracks

The treatment options for depression are many but generally boil down to just a few common choices. Some individuals can see the positive effects of a single treatment option, while others require multiple kinds. No matter what option you and your doctor decide upon, finding the treatment that works best for you is possible.

Many patients feel that therapy or counseling is the best and most effective option for depression. It can work for various forms of depression, whether the patient is experiencing a depressive episode at the time or not. A counselor aims to help patients get past the negativity in their heads and teach the mind to handle life a bit differently. Online therapy is an option for people living with depression, as it doesn't require you to leave your home. 

In addition to being convenient, online therapy is proven by research to be an equally effective form of treatment for several different mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and more, when compared to face-to-face options.

Others require medication in addition to therapy, and some prefer to take medication without regular sessions. This is a decision that should be made with a medical professional. Antidepressants can be incredibly effective in depleting the symptoms of depression. However, it's important to remember that the depression will likely still be there if medication is stopped suddenly. Because of this, any changes to medicine use should be approved by a doctor first.

Depression can also be reduced with exercise, regular exposure to sunlight, and a healthy diet. Several other alternative methods have seen some positive feedback regarding depression. If you find yourself in a depressive, seek help from a professional. You can improve your mental health and inspire others to do the same. If a depression epidemic is a real medical event, you must start with yourself before attempting to change the diseases reach.