Mental Health and Single Parents

Depression Have you ever felt hopeless, down, worthless, or guilty for no apparent reason? You may be experiencing depression. Many factors contribute to these feelings including hormonal changes, family, personal and biological. Thee symptoms can e acute or chronic. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, depression is an emotional sate that extends further than feeling sad. Depression is a medical illness that affects a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, physical health and mood. This condition affects every person differently, some may experience one or two episodes in their life while others have recurrent incidence. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that about 14.8 million (6.7%) of American live with depression. The National Academy of Science reported in 2013 some 15 million children lived in households where parents have depression. Single parents are twice as as likely to be depressed than parents from a two-parent family. A study conducted by Child Data Trends Data bank, indicated that in 2013 single parents reported having 1-2 depression symptoms. A study. These symptoms were reported at a higher rate for single mothers (12%) compared to single fathers (5%) and mothers in two-parent families (5%). To see full study see resources below.

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 8 Effects of Depression

1. Distorts your thinking
2. Makes you irritable
3. Increased physical symptoms (aches pains, chronic fatigue, decreased appetite, insomnia, and decreased interest in sex)
4. Decreased interest in daily tasks and things you used to enjoy
5. Recurrent thoughts or preoccupation with suicide or death
6. Weakened immune system
7. Weight problems
8. Cognitive changes

Treatment

Depression is treatable and any person who believes they have depression should seek care from a licensed mental health professional. Depression comes and goes, but this does not mean one should not seek professional help because they feel better. Professionals offer many types of therapy and medications. Working with a qualified professional, a person suffering from depression can regain control of their life.

Some places and people that make referrals for treatment are family doctors, mental health specialists, community mental health specialists, community mental health cents, hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics, university or medical school affiliated programs, state hospital outpatient clinics, and family and social agencies.