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October 2024: National Depression Awareness Month

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 depression

Depression (formally called a depressive disorder) is a common mental health condition impacting millions of people each year. Many individuals do not recognize the symptoms or gravity of depression, leading to missed opportunities to get connected to treatment and prolongment of needless or excessive suffering. Depression can create challenges in all areas of life, including at work and at home. Prevalence rates are thought to be elevated amongst construction workers, making education and awareness all the more important. 

Signs and symptoms of depression (which can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe), may include experiencing a loss of pleasure or interest in activities, having trouble concentrating, experiencing a sense of extremely low self-worth, feeling hopeless about the future, disrupted sleeping or eating patterns, and/or feeling excessively tired or low energy. 

Myths about depression include that it is not a real or serious medical condition, and that strong people can snap themselves out of depression or do not experience it at all. None of these are true. Depression is a legitimate, complex illness predisposed by certain biological and environmental factors; and should be understood with the same level of seriousness as other medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. It affects all people, from all walks of life, does not indicate or reflect mental weakness, nor can it be treated by being told or asked to 'be tough.'

During National Depression Awareness Month, we acknowledge the importance of screenings as a key component of early intervention and improved outcomes. National Depression Screening Day takes place on October 10, 2024, and you can take an online depression screening by clicking here.

The IUBAC Member Assistance Program (MAP) is here to support all members and their loved ones who may be experiencing symptoms of depression. Help is available by calling 1-833-MAP-TALK, M-F, 8am-7pm ET. 

To learn more about depression, please visit the following links:

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. You may also obtain immediate 24/7 help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.