DOES DEPRESSION EXIST IN ZIM SOCIETY?

DOES DEPRESSION EXIST IN ZIM SOCIETY?

story by Robson dhliwayo felex

IS depression considered a medical issue by the Zimbabwean community? Or its oneof the issues that both the media and people choose to be silent about.

 As the number of suicides has increased in Zimbabwe, one begins to wonder whether it is spiritual issued that needs prophets and religion.

 Zimbabwean society has been affected by different problems, people are facing difficulties to go by with their day.

 Among some of the problems affecting Zimbabwe is economic meltdown which has caused financial problems for a lot of Zimbabwean individuals, impoverishing the citizens.

 A number of illnesses have been recorded in Zimbabwe having being caused by the financial problems among them, cholera,typhoid and high blood pressure.

 These illnesses have been seen physically on the human body with symptoms such as running stomach, swollen feet, but there is one illness that has attacked Zimbabwe’s society, that can’t be seen by the eye, but needs expects which is depression.

 This mental illness has resulted in taking people’s lives in the country, a number of young people have resulted by taking their own lives either by hanging or drinking poison.

 According to the latest WHO data published in 2017 Suicide Deaths in Zimbabwe reached 1,641 or 1.30% of total deaths.

The age adjusted Death Rate is 17.54 per 100,000 of population ranks Zimbabwe is number 19 in the world.

Apparently scientists have found out that depression is Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.

 Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

 It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

 This is according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Depression can be measured as minor and major depression the following are symptoms of depression Feeling sad or having a depressed mood, Loss of interest or pleasure inactivities once enjoyed,

Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting, Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, Loss of energy or increased fatigue, Increase in purposeless physical activity. For example hand-wringing or pacing or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others),Feeling worthless or guilty, Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions, Thoughts of death or suicide.

However some might view depression as being the same as sadness, as in sadness caused by grief and other issues such as heartbreak which is why the sickness is often over looked in Zimbabwe.

  The two are very different in two important ways. In grief or heartbreak, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased whereas major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.

In grief or heartbreak, self-esteem is usually maintained, whilst, in major depression,feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.

Most Zimbabwean people both adults and young adults are being affected with the sickness yet ending up losing their lives, the healthy sector in Zimbabwe should foster counseling services in schools and the communities so as to help fight this mental enemy.