Are You or Someone You Care About Depressed?

In any given year, about 10% of the adult population will experience depression. That’s about 19 million people. Depression is different from feeling blue or down on occasion. Everyone feels down on occasion, but people who experience depression feel down most of the time in a given period. Depression can be caused by a variety of factors: a medical condition, a difficult situation or significant loss, alcohol abuse, or a chemical imbalance in the body.

Here are some simple questions to help you determine if you or a loved one is depressed.

1. Have you felt depressed (sad or empty for example) for most of the day, nearly every day for at least the last two weeks?


2. Have you noticed a lack of interest or a decrease in pleasure in activities or hobbies that you previously used to enjoy, including sex?


3. Have you noticed any significant changes in your appetite in the last two weeks – either a significant decrease or increase in appetite – resulting in weight gain or weight loss not associated with dieting?


4. In the past two weeks, have you had trouble falling asleep or oversleeping, or have you woken early many days?


5. Have you felt fatigued, had a low energy level or felt slowed down?


6. Have you had difficulty remembering things, concentrating or making decisions?


7. Have you had feelings of hopelessness?


8. Have you had feelings of excessive guilt or worthlessness?


9. Have you had thoughts of death or suicide, or attempted suicide?

If you answered “Yes“ to any five of the above questions, chance are you are feeling depressed. If you answered “Yes” to less than five questions, but answered “Yes” to item #9, then chances are you are feeling depressed as well.

	The Employee Assistance Program has helped many people effectively treat depression. We urge you to call the EAP or speak to your primary care physician. Without treatment, a depressed person can feel bad for weeks, months or even years. However, the right treatment can help many people recover from depression. You don’t have to feel bad. Help is just a phone call away.
Call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-888-5105.

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