Danger of Depression

BY ROBERT WRIGHT

We’ve been lucky this winter; the temperatures have been mild—except for the recent but short, deep freeze followed by spring-like weather, all within days of each other.

The sun has been welcoming, with many basking in mid-day warmth. With such encouraging conditions, little has been said about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which typically makes headlines under the gray clouds during February and March.

At the same time, the news is filled with countless stories of suicides and murders. The reports making the biggest splash often come from places like Manhattan. Recently a young businessman leaped to his death from a high rise at Times Square. Successful, with the appearance of living the American Dream, he believed otherwise.

Months before, a model climbed out on a ledge on the 27thfloor balcony at an outdoor bar and jumped; the staff could not come to her rescue. A split second could have made a difference.

Then, making headlines closer to home is the arrest of a woman accused of killing her three children in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Speculation is circulating that the mom, a labor and delivery nurse at a Boston hospital, took her kids’ lives, then attempted to kill herself by jumping out a window of her home because of a condition known as postpartum depression. But, recently, her defense attorney has floated the notion that besides significant mental illness playing a role in her decline, the cause of the alleged actions may be attributed to the effects from dozens of prescribed psychiatric drugs.

Sadly and unforgivingly ruthless, a young girl from New Jersey took her life after four teenage girls beat her at school, videotaped the incident, and then posted the attack. The girls have been charged with the senseless assault, but what is left is a family in complete turmoil and pain.

These are just a few of the many accounts taking places daily; people unable to face the mounting stress of life are making choices without the benefit of sharing their pain and confusion. Noticeably, each comes from a different background but seems to lack coping strategies.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the leading cause of death in the US, resulting in 46,000 deaths in 2020. In the same year, an estimated 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million made plans, and 1.2 million attempted to harm themselves.

But, most egregious is suicide rates in 2020 were 30 percent higher than in 2000 and are likely increasing yearly.

It is essential to differentiate between mild bouts of depression and the type that lead to a tragic ending. The CDC and the

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the leading cause of death in the US, resulting in 46,000 deaths in 2020. In the same year, an estimated 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million made plans, and 1.2 million attempted to harm themselves.

But, most egregious is suicide rates in 2020 were 30 percent higher than in 2000 and are likely increasing yearly.

National Center for Health Statistics, report that suicide rates in the United States are lowest during the winter months and highest in the spring and summer.

SAD usually occurs in the fall or when the late winter months are upon us. According to George Dominiak, M.D., a psychiatrist with Mass General Brigham Integrated Care, “Humans are not immune to the cycle of the seasons. We have changes in our hormones and in our physiology that occur when the weather gets colder and the days get shorter that can affect mood, anxiety, and energy levels.”

“During this period, symptoms can include; an increase in sadness, lower energy or feeling lethargic, excessive sleeping, a craving for carbohydrates, and weight gain. Also noticeable is the loss of interest in daily activities.”

“It’s often mild. But when it happens and repeats for several years in a row, or so severely that it affects a person’s ability to function at home or work on a daily basis, it could be considered an actual depressive episode,” says Dr. Dominiak.

What are the risk factors for seasonal depression? According to Dr. Dominiak; you may be more likely than others to have seasonal depression if:

You’re a woman.

You’re aged 18 to 30.

You have other mood disorders, like depression or bipolar disorder.

You have a family history of seasonal depression.

You live far away from the equator, or you live in a place that typically has cloudy, rainy, or foggy weather and places with less sun exposure.

As for treatment with mild blues, Dr. Dominiak recommends people make some lifestyle changes. “The simplest treatment is to get up earlier in the morning to go outside and get some sunlight on your face,” he says. “Even on cloudy days, just getting daylight exposure can make a big difference.” Dr. Dominiak also recommends not wearing sunglasses on winter mornings because it reduces the amount of light that touches your face and enters your eyes.

Other lifestyle changes include:

Getting regular exercise

Eating healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals

Engaging in normal social activities

Dr. Dominiak also suggests that for people with more severe seasonal depression, exposing their faces to a light box first thing in the morning for 15 to 30 minutes a day can be helpful. A light box generates bright light that mimics sunlight.

It should have a rating of at least 10,000 lux, which measures the intensity of the light produced. Doctors also may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication treatment to manage symptoms.

In more extreme cases, not appearing to be the result of SAD, it is important to be alert to warning signs; often, behavioral clues are apparent but overlooked. Seldom a person contemplates their demise without planning; at this stage, intervention can be crucial in prevention.

If someone is at risk for suicide, the CDC recommends you watch for warning signs, including:

Talking about being a burden

Being isolated

Increased anxiety

Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

Increased substance use

Looking for a way to access lethal means

Increased anger or rage

Extreme mood swings

Expressing hopelessness

Sleeping too little or too much

Talking or posting about wanting to die

Making plans for suicide

Most troubling is the connection between bullying and selfharm. School administrators and teachers are fully aware of the cause-and-effect link, yet we continue to hear that student-onstudent violence continues and seems to proliferate. Parents need to ask those entrusted with their children’s safety, “What specific action plan do you have to prevent verbal and/or physical attacks on the student population? And, when weeded out, what is the punishment for the antisocial behavior?”

The tragedy of suicide is reprehensible, especially when the call for civility and the acceptance of differences is at an all-time high. The belief that ‘kids will be kids’ is unacceptable; shouldn’t the focus on enforcement of appropriate social interaction be paramount?

History has shown that allowing students with underdeveloped minds and personalities to monitor and control themselves— doesn’t work. Adult supervision and intervention are critical components of providing a safe and secure environment for today’s youth.

It’s time to hold everyone responsible for their actions. H

If you feel unsafe, bullied, or having thoughts of self-harm, contact 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org. Or, confide in a friend, parent, teacher, or adult; let them know you need to talk.