Posts

COVID’s mental-health toll: how scientists are tracking a surge in depression

Image
Major events that have shaken societies, such as the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York, have left some people with psychological distress for years, says Marques. A study 1  of more than 36,000 New York residents and rescue workers revealed that more than 14 years after the attack, 14% still had post-traumatic stress disorder and 15% experienced depression — much higher rates than in comparable populations (5% and 8%, respectively). Fear and isolation The distress in the pandemic probably stems from people’s limited social interactions, tensions among families in lockdown together and fear of illness, says psychiatrist Marcella Rietschel at the Central Institute for Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany. Studies and surveys conducted so far in the pandemic consistently show that young people, rather than older people, are most vulnerable to increased psychological distress, perhaps because their need for social interactions are stronger. Data also suggest that young women are more vul...
1 comment
Read more

How to Avoid Depression During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Image
  As more people self-isolate to reduce the spread of COVID-19, an expert offers tips on how to prevent depression during the crisis. The outbreak of the new coronavirus has affected many areas of daily life, including mental health. With the sudden disruption of our routines and the new norm of  social distancing , life as we knew it has dramatically transformed in a matter of weeks. Suddenly, many of us are facing the stress of the news—and its impact on our finances—alone, putting us at risk for depression during the  coronavirus  outbreak. “This is the perfect storm for depression and  anxiety ,” says Dr.  Robert Leahy , an attending psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, the author of  The Worry Cure  and  Keeping Your Head After Losing Your Job , and a national expert in cognitive therapy. With everything going on, people can find themselves ruminating, feeling hopeless and helpless, and, ultimately, depresse...
2 comments
Read more

Checking In on Your Teenager’s Mood

Image
  Checking In on Your Teenager’s Mood During the COVID-19 Pandemic C oronavirus disease (COVID-19) are challenging for most people, many teenagers are particularly impacted. Some are missing the first season on their varsity team, their part in the school play, or their final semester of high school. As such, many teens may seem down, disappointed, or moody. “Parents, who now have unprecedented access to their teenager’s day-to-day functioning due to social distancing, may find themselves wondering how to tell the difference between typical teenage sadness and depression,” says Aleta G. Angelosante, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health and also part of its Child Study Center. Similarly, parents who have a teen who is or who has been depressed may wonder how best to support their teen during this unique crisis. Dr. Angelosante, in partnership with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s WonderLab, di...
2 comments
Read more

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Teens’ Mental Health

Image
Teens’ Mental Health One in three adolescents (31.9 percent) will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18. A new poll finds many teens show signs of anxiety and depression. The restrictions of the pandemic have been felt across the board. For teenagers, restrictions have meant months of virtual learning, more time isolated from friends, and the canceling of important social activities like sports, school performances, graduations, and proms. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant living through multiple crises, including financial and disease-related ones, all at once. These crises have taken a toll on our mental and physical health. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation,  4 in 10 adults  in the United States have reported anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms during the pandemic. But a poll from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital shows that the mental health effects of the pandemic are more likely to have a significant impact on teenagers. The restrictions of the...
2 comments
Read more

Signs of Depression

Image
  MOOD DISORDERS Depression Q What is depression? A Depression is a mood disorder with symptoms that affect a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, and daily functioning. In some severe cases, it can also lead to thoughts of death or attempts at self-harm or suicide.  Everyone experiences sadness during a period of grief or a stressful situation. In the case of depression these feelings persist over a long period (more than two weeks); can recur frequently; and disrupt a person’s daily life. Its diagnosis is made with careful consideration to commonly experienced feelings like sadness, along with other symptoms that characterize the illness. Even though it is one of the most well-recognized disorders, it is still widely stigmatized. The national mental health surveyy estimated that 1 in 20 Indians have depression—despite this, over 85% of the total number of people living with it don’t have access to treatment. A person can be diagnosed with depression at any p...
1 comment
Read more