Over 350 million people in the world live with depression, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Depression is a mental illness; a complex condition that may appear in many forms, including psychotic depression, dysthymia, postnatal depression (suffered by new parents, both mothers and fathers), atypical depression, and depression tied with anxiety. The root causes and the means of tackling these conditions were discussed at the ‘Depression, Nuts and Bolts Workshop’ conducted by Counselling Psychologist Nivendra Uduman at the Royal College Union Skills Centre last week. The event started off with a brief introduction on depression, and how it affects a person’s well-being. This was followed by a little activity called ‘the elephant in the room’, where all participants were asked to write what they were feeling in a piece of paper, and paste it on the portrait of an elephant, which was displayed in front of the room. The activity aimed to showcase the individuality in human feelings and emotions. Several misconceptions on depression such as depression can only be treated by medication, it is ‘similar to feeling sad’, it is ‘only caused as a result of traumatic incidents’, or that ‘depression is all in the head’ were disproven before the information sharing session began. This session was focused on the causes, signs/symptoms, and treatments of depression. Causes and symptoms The key causes, as discussed, were childhood experiences including physical, mental or sexual abuse, issues in life and relationships, alcohol, street drugs, cannabis, prescription medicine, menopause and menstruation, and also, thyroid conditions. Other mental illnesses such as anxiety and bipolar affective disorder etc. can increase the risk of developing depression as well. It was further added that genetics and biology such as the level of mood determining neuro-transmitters in the brain may increase the risk of this condition. The key symptoms, accordingly, were the loss of interest and pleasure in daily activities, lack of energy, feeling fatigue, general slowness, feelings of emptiness and numbness, difficulty in concentrating, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm, feelings of worthlessness, unexplained weight loss or gain, difficulty to sleep, loss of appetite, loss of interest in sex (especially amongst men), and behavioural changes like crying, physical aches and pains. [gallery columns="1" link="file" size="full" ids="7121,7122,7123,7124,7125,7126"] “You have to keep trying, and challenge the negative beliefs you have about yourself” The various treatments accessible for depression as discussed include psychopharmacology (medication) and ECT, psychotherapy, counselling and befriending. Befriending is a mechanism where laypeople are trained to offer support, whereas counsellors and psychologists are qualified professionals. 1333 and Sumithrayo were mentioned as some befriending helplines available in Sri Lanka. It was further added that psychotherapy and medication combined together can have effective outcomes in the treatment of depression, and that ECT is usually a last resort for severe situations. The personal story of Tharaka Rachigoda, a brave soul who won in the battle of depression, was next in line. She narrated the painful experience of losing her father while coping with depression. In talking about therapy and overcoming depression, she said: “therapists are different people – it is not easy to find the right therapist, so you have to keep trying, and challenge the negative beliefs you have about yourself.” She further added that “mental health is your responsibility and you have to take care of it.” A Q&A session was conducted subsequently. A common concern among most participants was the effective means of engaging in the lives of their loved ones living with depression, and lending a helping hand. It was emphasised during this discussion that proper awareness with facts and empathy, not sympathy, can help make a difference. The event came to an end with a raffle draw, awarding a mental healthcare package to a lucky winner. Nivendra described what a thoughtful mental health package may contain. This included; cream/lotion as it is considered soothing, incense, a journal and a pen, and finally a stress ball to keep things fun. The participants were pleased with the very informative session, and went on to direct their personal queries to the experts. A very attentive and satisfied participant, 1333 helpline Manager Ranil Thilakrathne said: “We need to talk more about depression; there is a stigma in our society about mental illness, and the more we talk about it, the more we can get rid of these misconceptions.” Speaking to Nivendra Uduman in person, we found out that there will be similar workshops conducted outside of Colombo in the future, in Sinhala language. In a nutshell · Reach out for support at your lowest; don’t be ashamed to talk about it · Show empathy to those living with depression · Most importantly, consider doing your part to create awareness, and remove the deep-rooted stigmas surrounding mental illness · Some helplines available for persons living with depression include 1333 (24171365), Shanthi Maargam (0717639898) and Sumithrayo (0112696666/0112692909), and yeheli.lk By Pujanee Galappaththi Photos Saman Abesiriwardhana