Are You Suffering From Recession Depression?

By Meghan Vivo

Do home foreclosures, job losses and worries about your financial future have you feeling down? You may be suffering from what the media has dubbed “recession depression.”
 
Although genetics and family history are strong indictors for depression, clinical studies have shown that major depression can also arise when a sufficiently threatening event or series of events takes place, such as an economic crisis, job loss, divorce or home foreclosure.

Depression can strike at any time, but studies suggest that tough economic times have sparked a new wave of mental illness in America. Millions of Americans feel hopeless and out of control and are unsure of how to get even their basic needs met. As a result, crisis hot lines around the country are experiencing a significant increase in calls from people concerned about their finances, with some providers of employee assistance programs observing increases as high as 89 percent, according to ABC News.

The Impact of Unemployment

As unemployment rates soar to almost 10 percent nationwide, the U.S. is confronting a mental health crisis as well as an economic crisis, experts say. A recent national survey reports that unemployed people are four times more likely to experience depression and other mental health issues than people who are employed, and are also four times more likely to consider suicide than those with full-time jobs.

People who are employed but have experienced pay cuts or reduced hours are twice as likely to suffer from depression or severe mental illness, and are five times more likely to report feeling hopeless most or all of the time, than people who haven't experienced this type of change at work.

The correlation between unemployment and depression is clear. The survey showed that people who are unemployed are roughly six times as likely to have difficulty meeting household expenses. Almost half reported significant difficulty in obtaining health care due to cost or lack of insurance coverage.

"This survey clearly shows that economic difficulties are placing the public's mental health at serious risk, and we need affirmative action to address these medical problems," David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America (one of the groups behind the survey), said in a news release. "Individuals confronting these problems should seek help for their problems - talk to their doctor, trusted friend or advisor or mental health professional."

Michael J. Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, advised in the news release, "There is no shame in seeking help to overcome unemployment or a medical illness. For the sake of all our loved ones, it's important to learn to recognize symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses."

Who Suffers Most?

Depression strikes both men and women, but who suffers most during times of financial turmoil?

Traditional gender roles put a great deal of pressure on men to be financially secure providers for their families. In an economic crisis, many men lose their sense of identity and self-worth when they stop filling the role of breadwinner, and many fear it is a sign of weakness to need help.

A survey conducted by British nonprofit Mind found that almost 40 percent of men admitted to feeling depressed about work and money, yet far fewer men than women were willing to talk to a friend about their problems (29 percent of men vs. 53 percent of women) or seek professional help. As a result, men were less likely to be diagnosed and treated for mental health issues.

Men are by no means the only ones suffering from the recession blues. A survey released by the American Psychiatric Association suggests that women tend to neglect their own needs in favor of focusing on the needs of others. According to the survey, more than half of women (55 percent) said the current economic crisis has had a negative impact on their mental health and 68 percent said they and their families have been negatively impacted.

Despite the economy’s impact on their well-being, most of the women in the survey ranked the ability to provide food, clothing and education for their families, relationships with family and friends, and personal finances such as mortgages and retirement savings, as more important than their own mental and physical health.

Beating the Recession Blues

Whatever your status – employed or unemployed, male or female – there are steps you can take to improve your mental health before major depression sets in. When you’re feeling down, the following tips may help you keep your current troubles in perspective.

Take care of yourself. Mental health is impacted by stress and lifestyle. Exercise, a nutritious diet and adequate sleep make a difference in how you feel physically and emotionally. Taking care of yourself will ensure that you have the energy to give your all to work, family and other commitments.

Stay connected. When you’re down, it’s tempting to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, but this approach is counterproductive and damaging to you and the people around you. Instead, look to family and friends as a source of support and encouragement to help you stay in a positive frame of mind. Chances are they have also been affected by the recession and can empathize.

Focus on the positive. With all of the bad news on TV and in the media, monitor how much time you spend dwelling on the negative and make time for activities you enjoy, such as playing with your kids, writing in a journal, listening to music or reading a book. Though it may not feel like it now, the recession is temporary. In the meantime, focus on the present rather than letting worries about the future keep you from enjoying life.

Stay busy. Staying busy doing things you enjoy can be therapeutic. Rent a movie with a friend, play a game with your family or take a walk in the park. These activities don’t cost much and will ensure that you have good times amidst the stress and worry. You may also feel better if you help someone else in need by volunteering or making time to do something special for someone you care about.

Find depression treatment. Since depression is more common in times of crisis, keep an eye out for symptoms of a problem. Even if you’re staying active and social, you may need to speak with a therapist or seek treatment for depression if your life feels unmanageable. If you’re feeling hopeless, irritable or are having trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating or suicidal thoughts, get professional help right away.

Studies show that less than half of people struggling with depression will seek treatment. This is the true even though reports suggest that treatments such as antidepressants and therapy are effective more than 80 percent of the time.

While your finances are tighter than ever, an economic crisis is no time to stop taking care of yourself. Contact a depression treatment program or mental health care provider at the first signs of trouble. The earlier you catch and treat depression, the sooner you can bring joy and satisfaction back into your life.