To combat the spread of Covid-19, the South African government announced a nationwide lockdown on 23 March 2020. Since then, the number of people who have reported feelings of loneliness, hopelessness and depression has increased.
What is depression?:
Depression is a mood disorder that affects a person’s daily life. It is more than feeling down for a long time. Men, women and children can experience depression differently, so the signs and symptoms will differ from person to person.
Depression can affect a person’s
* mood (anger, irritability, aggressive-ness, or anxiousness).
* emotional well-being (feelings of sadness, emptiness).
* behaviour (lack of motivation, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, excessive tiredness, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively or using drugs).
* cognitive abilities (unable to concentrate for even short periods, difficulty completing tasks).
* changes in sleep patterns (being unable to fall asleep, not being able to sleep through the night or sleeping for extremely long periods at a time).
* physical well-being (fatigue, pain, headaches, digestive problems, significant weight loss or weight gain).
The different subtypes of depression:
* Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the more severe form of depression. It is characterised by persistent feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and sadness that will not go away on their own. The patient must have the symptoms for two weeks or more
* Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) is a milder but chronic form of depres- sion. For this diagnosis, the symptoms must be present for two years.
Causes:
The causes could be biological (your family has a history of mood disorders) or circumstance (an event of trauma).
Where can you get help:
Even if you are not diagnosed with depression, you can still seek help to alleviate feelings of hopelessness.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) hosts various support groups on Zoom, like this Mental Health and Wellness Support Group. Visit their website for more information at https://www.sadag.org/.
Talk to a counsellor online seven days a week from 09:00 to 16:00 via the Cipla Whatsapp Chat Line 076 882 2775.
SMS 31393 or 32312 and a counsellor will call you back – available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Sadag helplines provide free telephonic counselling, information, referrals and resources 7 days a week, 24 hours a day – call 0800 21 22 23, 0800 70 80 90 or 0800 456 789.
Suicide helpline 0800 567 567.
If you do not feel comfortable contacting any of the above numbers, consult your house doctor or GP for help.
You can implement these tips at home to ease the feelings of depression and prioritise your mental well-being:
* Go for a walk. This will be very beneficial for both your physical and mental well-being as exercise helps alleviate feelings of depression. The sunlight itself and being outside the walls of your home will also help lift your mood.
* Set a daily routine for yourself or your household. This will combat feelings of hopelessness and unproductivity.
* Learn to set boundaries. Learn to say no to activities or requests that make you feel overwhelmed and worsen the feelings of anxiety or depression.
* * Selfcare. It is vital to take care of yourself. Go to sleep earlier, follow a healthy, balanced diet and participate in activities you enjoy. Limit your time with negative people.
