Depression impacts all groups of people. In fact, roughly 7% of adults in the US – almost one in ten – experience depression at one point or another. Dealing with depression can feel daunting, especially if you are a part of a community in which mental health is not discussed. Even more, the stigma against mental illnesses continues to persist.
What is Depression?
Clinically, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) defines Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) based on a person having five or more signs or symptoms of depression lasting for at least 2 weeks. In a depressed episode or MDD, there tends to be impairment in a person’s ability to function compared to their normal. The image below outlines the potential symptoms a person dealing with depression might experience.
Dealing with Depression: Faith, Meds, and Therapy
Some people fear that their lives will change forever if they are diagnosed with depression. While there are varying levels of severity of the illness, many people find that they are able to live full lives once they receive medical treatment for their depression.
Thankfully, as with most medical illnesses, there are many treatment options for depression. Clinically, a combination of psychotherapy and anti-depressant medications leads to the best outcomes for those with depression. However, for those with faith-based or religious practices, research also shows that involvement in religious practice also helps with recovery and dealing with depression.
As a Christian and psychiatry resident, I hope to foster conversations to emphasize the difference between spiritual health and mental health. In these conversations, it is important to recognize that faith, meds, and therapy each play important roles for people who are dealing with depression.
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This video is a recorded presentation from my talk Dealing with Depression: Faith, Meds, and Therapy, which I delivered to the women of Germantown Christian Assembly in May 2020.
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Dr. Atasha Jordan is an Ivy League-trained psychiatry resident and businesswoman. Learn more about Dr. Jordan here. Feel free to say hello and be sure to subscribe to the newsletter for updates!
References:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth edition. 2013.
Bonelli, R., Dew, R. E., Koenig, H. G., Rosmarin, D. H., & Vasegh, S. (2012). Religious and spiritual factors in depression: review and integration of the research. Depression research and treatment, 2012, 962860. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/962860
Cuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S. L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A. T., & Reynolds, C. F., 3rd (2014). Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 13(1), 56–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20089
National Institute of Mental Health. (Data from 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health) www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml
