Real Talk

Depression is a condition that affects approximately 19 million Americans on an annual basis according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). However, this number represents primarily White American females as the predominant population affected by depression related symptoms.

 

Why?

 

Some of you may ask why do White American females frequent physicians’ offices to discuss depression? Or what do White American females have to be upset or depressed about?

 

The aforementioned questions are actually quite frequent and something that I encounter almost on a daily basis. One reason that the primary population affected is White American females is that individuals in our own communities do not always seek resources to assist with an official diagnosis of depression, perhaps lack of monetary viability which would hinder any visit to a physician, and/or individuals in our own communities pride themselves on being self-sufficient or self-reliant. In other words, some African Americans believe “I can pull my own self out of this hole or rut that I am in,” “My ancestors had to deal with much worse than I am having to deal with. I need to get it together.”

 

Whatever the reason or explanation, depression is a realistic phenomenon that causes individuals to experience decreased energy, lack of desire to engage in events/experiences that previously made them happy, decreased appetite with usual unintentional weight loss, decreased sleep or increased sleep, inability to concentrate, unexplainable crying spells, feelings of hopelessness/worthlessness, and for some even thoughts of wanting to harm him or herself. These symptoms are very common as depression is the number one diagnosis made by a psychiatrist (mental health physician). These symptoms can be treated with medication and/or individual therapy. Of course, the more neurovegetative symptoms that exist which include decreased appetite and weight loss, self-harming behavior, inability to get out of the bed, or inability to sleep would require immediate medication and usually psychiatric hospitalization.

 

If you or anyone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important that these individuals seek immediate medical attention. A good place to start is your family physician, internist or pediatrician. Another suggestion is to contact any toll free crisis hotline numbers so that these professionals may guide people to the next appropriate level of care. If all else fails and you or someone you know feels extremely unsafe, then 911 or any emergency service should be contacted to help facilitate a quicker medical intervention.

 

Michelle Schofield, M.D

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 8:00 am and is filed under The Doctor's Lounge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.