Diagnosing Depression

One in six people experience a common mental health problem every week. But what is depression?

In the UK...

Women are more likely than men to have a common mental health problem

Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder

1. Feeling sad or "empty"
2. Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or angry
3. Loss of interest in work, family, or once-pleasurable activities, including sex
4. Feeling very tired
5. Not being able to concentrate or remember details
6. Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
7. Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
8. Thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempts
9. Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
10. Inability to meet the responsibilities of work, caring for family, or other important activities

10% of mothers and 6% of fathers have a mental health problem

About 5% of men and 10% of women will experience Major Depressive Disorder at some point in their life

1. Persistently sad, anxious, or having an "empty" mood
2. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
3. Restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying
4. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism
5. Sleeping too much or too little, or early-morning awakening
6. Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
7. Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
8. Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
9. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
10. Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Overwhelming stress at work, school, or home

Marital or relationship problems

Not reaching important goals

Losing or changing a job; embarking on military service

Constant money problems

Family history of mood disorders

History of mood disorders in early reproductive years

Loss of a parent before the age of 10

Loss of social support system or the threat of such a loss

Ongoing psychological and social stress

Symptoms of Depression	Symptoms of Dementa
Mental decline is relatively rapid	Mental decline happens slowly
Knows the correct time, date, and where he or she is	Confused and disorientated; becomes lost in familiar locations
Difficulty concentrating	Difficulty with short-term memory
Language and motor skills are slow, but normal	Writing, speaking, and motor skills are impaired
Notices or worries about memory problems	Doesn’t notice memory problems or seem to care