Health

• Oct 10, 2007 1:02 pm US/Eastern
• Digg | Facebook | E-mail

  Close WindowE-mail This Page

  Helping Families Recognize The Signs Of Depression

  Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

  ---

  • Recipient E-mail:* 
  • • Your Name:* 
    • Your E-mail:* 
  • Add a Message:
  •   Send me a copy of this e-mail.

  • Type the characters in this picture:* Click here to refresh with new letters

  ---

  The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

  Send E-mail

  | Print

Helping Families Recognize The Signs Of Depression

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Many of us may have friends or family members who are suffering from depression and don't know how to help. One local group is trying to change that by helping people recognize the warning signs.

Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year. About 70 percent of them give warning signs or actually tell someone in advance.

Julie Totten is on a mission to spare other families from suffering like hers. Her older brother committed suicide 16 years ago and her father also suffered from depression. "I tried to help him before he took his life and I helped my father get diagnosed."

That's why Julie started a national non-profit group called Families for Depression Awareness to help people recognize the warning signs and how to get help.

Julie says, "Usually someone realizes something is wrong, but they may not realize that it's depression. We try to help families understand what they can do to help someone. I know I can't get my brother Mark back, but I know I can help other families get well and prevent suicides and that gives me a lot of hope, doing this work."

Free mental health screenings will be held across the state and the country as part of 17th Annual National Depression Screening Day. For more information, log onto MentalHealthScreening.org.

Depression Signs For Family Members To Look Out For

For at least two weeks a person should show signs of:

- Depressed, irritable, angry, empty, or sad mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities they used to enjoy
- Having trouble at work or school
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Abusing alcohol or drugs
- Picking fights, being irritable, critical, or mean
- Low self-esteem, feeling guilty
- Complaining of aches and pains
- Eating too little or too much
- Sleeping too much or too little

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)