Sir: Depression is a state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of life enjoyment or inability to visualise/focus on a happy future.
Also, depression is a mental health disorder which can affect a person’s mood, thoughts, and behaviour. The physical anomaly is a common mental health condition that can be caused by different factors which vary from one person to another, such as predisposition, environmental factors, life events, and chemical imbalances in the brain.
Depression is a universal mental health malfunction affecting an estimated 350 million people globally. Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, with more than 264 million people suffering from moderate to severe depression.
Also, research conducted proved that women are twice as likely to suffer from depression compared with men.
Some likely symptoms of depression include persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, changes in appetite, sleeping patterns, decreased energy and fatigue, difficulty in concentrating or making decisions, thoughts of self-harm, agitation and physical symptoms such as headache and stomachache with no apparent medical cause.
Anybody experiencing any of these symptoms should urgently seek quick medical assistance from mental health professionals.
To take good care of your physical and mental health, there is a need for a healthy, balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, adequate sleeping to manage stress and personal hygiene. Other protective measures are strengthening cordial relationships with family and friends as well as avoiding keeping problems in mind without opening up to a trusted person who can proffer solutions.
•Garba Adamu Gwangwangwan,
Bauchi