What one person may experience in their lives as a challenge the other might consider a walk in the park compared to what they are going through and wonder what the 'suffering' person is complaining about. Often you will hear people exclaim, " I am so depressed!" Some people say this really believing that having a bad day or an uncomfortable situation that negatively affects his or her emotions means that s/he is depressed. Sadly, depression is about more than just having a bad day or feeling weepy for a few hours. Depression can last for weeks, months and even years if the suffering person doesn't get help from the right people. The most encouraging news or information is that depression is treatable and there is light at the end of the dark tunnel.

This week, the world commemorated the 20th anniversary of World Mental Health Day. It was held under the theme, 'Depression: A Global Crisis.' According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), "Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and in some countries fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment."

Depression is defined by WHO as, "a common mental disorder, characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration. Depression can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual's ability to function at work or school or cope with daily life."

Not many people are willing to share their stories of being depressed because not many people like to listen to people complain about their sorrows for fear of them dampening their own mood or simply because not everyone is able to offer the right support for people who are depressed. A good friend will say things like, "Go tla siama," or, " if God brought you to it, He will bring you through it" or will offer other encouraging words and motivational quotes hoping it will snap the depressed friend out of a bad emotional space.

Sometimes this can work or motivate someone to actually focus on the positive side, but a depressed person is in need of more than just motivational words. The kind of help available for the treatment of depression includes therapy and medication. Some people get away with simply taking medication that is prescribed by a professional that will help to alter the chemical imbalance that causes their depression while others benefit from a combination of medical treatment and therapy.

The National Institute of Mental Health on http://www.nmih.nih.gov says, "the first step to getting appropriate treatment is to visit a doctor. If a medical condition and bipolar disorder can be ruled out, the physician should conduct a psychological evaluation or refer the person to a mental health professional. The doctor or mental health professional will conduct a complete diagnostic evaluation. He or she should get a complete history of symptoms, including when they started, how long they have lasted, their severity, whether they have occurred before, and if so, how they were treated. He or she should also ask if there is a family history of depression. In addition, he or she should ask if the person is using alcohol or drugs, and whether the person is thinking about death or suicide."

There is a lot of stigma against people who suffer from mental illnesses because not everyone is informed enough to appreciate or understand what mental illness. So, people will hide in the dark and dreary place that is their own world and not reach out for help. But left untreated, people who suffer from depression live lackluster lives, to say the very least, and some of those who can't bear the thought of living end up taking their own lives.

Some people turn to alcohol and drugs in an effort to numb the pain that they feel. Although these self-medication methods may work for a short period, they end up worsening a person's depressive state because of the havoc they can cause on the chemical balances of the human brain.Rather than self-medicating or denying the fact that you are suffering from depression, know that there is no shame in reaching out for help when it is needed.