Depression: When skydiving feels kinda boring

Being sad or feeling hopeless is a normal part of human existence appearing and disappearing and reappearing with the ebbs and flows of life. But when symptoms of a depressive episode last for more than two weeks, and begin to get in the way of one’s day-to-day life, that’s when a person meets the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, which is one type of the DSM-IV’s depressive diagnoses and one of many different mood disorders. The prevalence of MDD in Canada is higher than other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders (discussed in our next episode!) like generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia. Because of its prevalence, many areas of treatment are available to those who are struggling with clinical depression, including talk therapy, changing diet and exercise, medication, and brain stimulation therapies.

This episode’s guest, Tammy, shares with us that she began experiencing symptoms of MDD when she was in grade school. While depressive disorders tend to begin later in life and global data suggests that the median age for the onset of symptoms is 26 years old, a study from the United States showed that depression can be diagnosed as young as three years of age. Interestingly, a study from Korea showed that the age at which a person experiences their first major depressive episode may be correlated to a variety of different clinical indicators, like the frequency in which MDD episodes recur, that play a key role in one’s clinical prognosis of MDD and its outcomes. 

In this episode, we learn about a few of Tammy’s family members, one of whom also struggles with their mental health. Given the hereditary, or genetic, predisposition to mental disorders, it is common for some mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression, to run in the family. But when discussing the “nature” side of things, we mustn’t forget about the “nurture”. We’ve also seen that the environmental factors like one’s family structure, exposure to traumatic events, and much more can increase rates of mental health problems. 

Fast Facts

• Globally, depression is estimated to occur among 1.1% of adolescents aged 10 to14 years, and 2.8% of 15- to 19-year-olds. 
• More than a quarter of a million Canadian youth, representing 6.5% of people between the ages of 15 and 24, experience major depression each year.
• Depression can go unnoticed in children. Some may not talk about their helpless and hopeless thoughts and may not appear sad. Depression might also cause a child to make trouble or act unmotivated causing others to incorrectly label the child as a troublemaker or lazy.
• In Canada, once depression is recognized, intervention and treatment can make a difference for 80% of peop