Over the years, Ms. Shooner needed hospital care several times for severe depression. But she has avoided hospital stays for three years now. New-generation medications, counseling, and developing a written plan to use when depression hits have made the difference. Last year, the depression project began offering classes for doctors to update them on how to spot and treat depression in patients who come to see them for other medical problems. It also has begun working with Tristate employers to raise awareness among workers because more than 70 percent of people with depression are employed, yet their productivity is affected by depression.
Depression is a huge mental-health issue.
All primary care doctors should be more routinely screening patients for depression. For example, people who survive heart attacks but become depressed are far more likely to die within a year than those who are not depressed. Some heart-attack survivors get screened for signs of depression, but many don't, Dr. Daniels said. Myth of holiday suicides Increased community awareness about depression is important because many people have misconceptions about depression and suicide, said Dr. Herbert Hendin, medical director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. For example, many people, including many in the media, think the holiday season produces the highest numbers of suicides.