Take care of your mental health

Described as the suffering of our time by various global analyses and expert diagnoses, depression affects a large part of the population, and it is important to pay attention to the symptoms in order to prevent bigger problems in time. Diana Vigoya, a professor in the psychology program at the University of Cundinamarca, tells us about the warning signs, when and where to seek help.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 million people worldwide live with this mental disorder, whose incidence increased by more than 18% between 2005 and 2015. “Depression encompasses a range of different forms, descriptions, and experiences, but it wasn't always like this. There was a time when suffering was described using other terms, but the very recurrence of the diagnosis of depression offers clues about the state of our system of desires and choices over the last 40 years,” explained psychoanalyst Christian Dunker, a professor at the Institute of Psychology at the University of São Paulo, in an interview with the BBC in which he discussed his book.

In Colombia, diagnoses of depression are increasing; however, it has not received enough attention. This is why we see people committing acts of self-harm from an early age, and going to a professional becomes a source of ridicule. As a result, depression is not discussed as a common illness that can affect anyone's life.

“First of all, depression is a mental health event that significantly affects different areas of life, not only emotional well-being, but also family relationships, romantic relationships, and even work performance,” says Professor Vigota, explaining that this event affects people's sense of purpose in life and for this reason it is urgent to treat it.

The teacher explains that there is an urgent need to address the mental health of children and young people in Colombia who are diagnosed with depression, but who are not always treated because this condition is associated with substance use, domestic violence, psychological or personality disorders, or is associated with difficult times in life.

According to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, depression has become a frequent diagnosis in health care services in Colombia and represents the second leading cause of disease burden due to disability in the population.

It is urgent to ask for help.

“To seek attention and help for depression, it’s important when a person begins to lose interest in daily activities, begins to lose the desire to do things. Another important factor in depression is that behaviors begin to change; sleep and eating habits are affected. For example, the person may begin to sleep excessively or suffer from insomnia, or they may lose their appetite or overeat at certain times of the day,” the teacher explained.

He also explained that another risk factor for depression is when a person begins to have negative thoughts related to death or suicidal ideation about wanting to take their own life. Another higher risk factor to consider is when the person also announces that they want to try to end their life, or that they have thought about dying, or that they have some kind of plan for how they want to die or how they would do it.

The psychologist and teacher explains that it is important to consult a professional in clinical psychology or in many cases interdisciplinary work is needed, psychology and psychiatry "many cases also require medical attention because depression is associated with some type of physical illness," she said.

“Each case is different; sometimes depression comes with physical problems, and as soon as you see warning signs, you can consult a friend or acquaintance. If you prefer to be more anonymous, there are helplines in Colombia like 192, which operates during the Covid era, or 155, which handle mental health cases,” the teacher said.

Diana Vogoya concluded by recommending close observation and support for those experiencing these situations, without judging or ridiculing the issue, to contribute to a healthy treatment. She invited young people to "do physical activity; it makes you happy, take advantage of life by having goals and objectives, and these activities are important and help because depression is a mood disorder.".

More news from Extension Facatativá at the News Agency