Depression and suicide for ex-BKs

ExBKinfoChat:Depression

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Depression Resources

UK Depression Page: http://www.sane.org.uk/public_html/About_Mental_Illness/Depression.shtm
http://www.save.org/ This is on save.org: In an emergency Call 1-800--SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) In your respected country seek out Mental Health Professionals or call your local operator and ask for a suicide hot line. Additional links under other resources.

Symptoms of Depression

One of the most recognized symptoms of depression is a profound feeling of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness. You may be surprised to learn that people with depression often experience physical symptoms too.

In general, if you've been experiencing some combination of the following emotional or physical symptoms for more than two weeks, and it clearly interferes with your life, discuss your concerns with your doctor:

Emotional

Sadness throughout the day, nearly every day
Loss of interest in or enjoyment of your favorite activities
Feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
Feeling stressed, nervous, or overwhelmed
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness
Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
Irritability or restlessness
Thoughts of death or suicide

Physical

Fatigue or lack of energy
Sleeping too much or too little
Change in appetite or weight
Aches and pains
Headache
Back pain
Digestive problems
Dizziness

Don't let this list of symptoms scare you. Treatments and therapies are available that can help ease and even eliminate the emotional and physical symptoms of depression.

Causes of Depression There's no simple explanation for why people experience depression. It's a complex disease that may develop for a variety of reasons. It can affect anyone at any age, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or income level.

Some people become depressed after a major life change — the death of a loved one, a divorce, the loss of a job or a move. Even seemingly happy events, such as becoming a parent or getting married, can trigger depression. Or, even a smaller change can sometimes trigger depression.

Some risk factors for depression include:

A family history of depression
Death or illness of a loved one
Major illness or death of a loved one
Stressful conflicts, such as fights with family members or disputes at work
Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
Major life events, such as moving, graduating from college, changing jobs, getting married or divorced,ending a relationship, becoming a new parent,retiring or leaving/post religious vocation/New Religious Movement/Cult.
Financial difficulties

Be Aware of the Warning Signs of Suicide:

Full Page can be found @: http://www.healthyplace.com/COMMUNITIES/Depression/related/suicide.asp There is no typical suicide victim. It happens to young and old, rich and poor. Fortunately there are some common warning signs of suicide which, when acted upon, can save lives. Here are some signs to look for:

A suicidal person might be suicidal if he or she:

Talks about committing suicide
Has trouble eating or sleeping
Experiences drastic changes in behavior
Withdraws from friends and/or social activities
Loses interest in hobbies, work, school, etc.
Prepares for death by making out a will and final arrangements
Gives away prized possessions
Has attempted suicide before
Takes unnecessary risks
Has had recent severe losses
Is preoccupied with death and dying
Loses interest in their personal appearance
Increases their use of alcohol or drugs

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms: Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention immediately. Get Help with out delay!

Other Resources

HealthyPlace.com is a Chat, Forum, News and Info site: http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/definition.asp
Autralian Depression Page: http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Symptoms_of_Depression
Canadian Gov Site:http://www.mentalhealth.com/bookah/p44-dq.html
http://www.nami.org/ NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education.
NAMI Page on Depression: http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?section=Search&Template=Search/SearchDisplay.cfm
Suicede Prevention Action Network USA: http://www.spanusa.org/
WebMD Page on Depression: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/106/108338.htm
JAMA Patient Page: Suicide http://www.medem.com/search/default.cfm

(American Medical Association)in Spanish:http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/AAS%20Suicide%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Understanding%20and%20Helping%20the%20Suicidal%20Person%20-%20SPANIS.pdf

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