Let’s Talk About Depression
October is National Depression Screening Month
Health screenings are a necessary and important part of looking out for our wellbeing. But for too many people, that doesn’t include mental health screenings. October is National Depression Screening Month, a time set aside to remind everyone of the importance of addressing your mental health as much as your physical health.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all that’s happening in the world today – political division, rising levels of gun violence, centuries of systemic racism and economic disparities, and much more – remember, it’s OK to not be OK. You’re not alone.
The City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities (DBHIDS) is here to help.
What’s the difference between sadness and depression?
Feeling sad does not last as long as depression. In depression, you might also experience things like not feeling hungry or feeling hungrier than usual. You may also be sleeping a lot or not enough, and feeling hopeless. Hopelessness feels like the things that you used to enjoy are no longer fun.
These feelings are different from normal sadness when they last for long periods of time – from a couple of weeks to many months.
