Health experts say most people who die by suicide have a mental health issue, which might likely be depressive or substance abuse disorder.
While the victims of suicide may have relieved themselves of the pains of their earthly troubles, they however create and leave behind huge problems for their loved ones. First and foremost, the family and friends of a suicide victim are always at the receiving end of all the problems that are caused by the wrong decision of the suicide victim. They are left heartbroken from the experience of losing their loved one who couldn’t carry on with the fights of life; they bear the financial and otherwise burden of preparing their loved one for burial, and they carry on with the responsibilities left behind by the suicide victim; and then they struggle to live with the stigma and discrimination that is attached to losing one’s own to suicide. In many African countries, families of people who commit suicide are strongly discriminated against and stigmatized. It takes a lot of courage to carry on with life after losing a loved one to suicide.
Discussions have been ongoing on how to curb the trend of suicide, and many experts and health therapists have recommended some panaceas to depression that can work magically if properly adhered to. Experts explained that both clinical and situational depression have so much in common, especially as their symptoms majorly include a loss of interest in the foods, activities and things that the depressed person once relished.
Definition of Depression
Looking at the definition of depression, one may not be able to premise the entire subject on just one point of thought because depression is multi-faceted and cuts across purely medical and purely situational lines. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defined depression as a common mental disorder that involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods. It is simply a state of despondency, hopelessness and loss of interest in the things that once thrilled the depressed person. The depressed person feels worthless, hopeless, unreasonably angered and deeply sad. While there are lots of other psychological disorders, depression incidentally is a symptom that is common to all of them. Sufferers of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, paranoia, psychopathy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and all other psychological disorders are prone to depression. But depression in itself can assume a threatening proportion if it is not properly taken care of.
According to a WHO report of 2018, over 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression globally. This means that at least one in every 50 people suffers from depression. This statistic is a direct reflection of the hardship and suffering that exists in the contemporary world, especially in third-world countries where the means of survival are not readily available to a large chunk of the population.
Explaining more, Medical News Today, a medical news website, explained that clinical depression is only slightly different from situational depression in that they both share the common characteristics of despondency, hopelessness, loss of interest in the things that were once considered fascinating, and a deep feeling of sadness. However, the only major difference between clinical depression and situational depression is that the former can be very easily treated with orthodox medication, while the latter requires other therapeutic measures for it to be cured.
Looking at the causes of the respective depressive disorders, experts say that situational depression has easier ways of managing and curing it than the clinical one. Situational depression is usually caused by unpleasant experiences that temporarily alter the state of the mind. Medical News Today describes it as “an adjustment disorder with depressed mood.” This kind of depression can be triggered by unpleasant experiences such as divorce, loss of job, the death of a loved one, a serious accident or a major life change such as retirement.
Situational depression is characterised by listlessness (a total lack of interest in things that used to fascinate the depressed person), feelings of despair (that is, hopelessness or despondency), difficulty sleeping (insomnia), a tendency to be lachrymose (crying too often), excessive anxiety and worry, loss of concentration, withdrawal from normal activities as well as from family and friends, and suicidal thoughts. It is important to note that most people who experience situational depression begin to show symptoms of the disorder within 90 days of the event that triggered their depression.
Then, clinical depression has been described as far more severe than situational depression. It is also referred to as major depression or major depressive disorder. It can interfere with daily function.
Experts say extreme cases of clinical depression have been found to show symptoms such as hallucinations, delusion and other psychotic disturbances. However, the major symptoms of clinical depression have been found to include acute and persistent depressed mood or irritability, significantly reduced interest or feeling no pleasure in activities, significant weight loss or weight gain, a decrease or increase in appetite, insomnia or increased desire to sleep, restlessness or slowed behaviour, tiredness or loss of energy, feeling of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, trouble-making decisions, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide or a suicide attempt. It is important to note that clinical depression has been found to have strong hereditary links.
Furthermore, situational depression often heals on its own in mild cases but would require other therapeutic measures to heal when it is severe. Therapeutic measures could include exercising regularly, eating a well-balanced diet, keeping to regular sleeping habits, talking to loved ones, joining a formal support group, and taking up a hobby or leisure activity. In cases where these measures do not yield the expected results, the depressed person can see a psychotherapist.
Speaking about ways of tackling clinical depression, Dr. Herbert Okwuosa, a clinical psychologist, recommends a long-term management and in-depth treatment plan. He recommended a combination of psychotherapy or psychosocial counselling and medication for the treatment of clinical depression. He also recommended mental health care if the need for such arises.
He noted that depression can be managed effectively or treated completely. “Those who have suffered major life traumas should be quick to share their experiences with those who can help them manage their situation. It is always much easier to get help when one speaks out and discusses his challenges. And in cases of acute situational depression or clinical depression, the affected person can get medication to curb the effects of the condition,” he said.
