AS part of its activities for the 2024 Happy Healthy Heart celebration with the theme “Mind Your Heart, Mind Your Life, ”the House Medical and Dental Service headed by Dr. Luis Jose Bautista on Thursday held a lecture on the management of depression.
Dr. Ma. Bernadette Manalo-Arcena, in-house psychiatrist, conducted the hybrid lecture dubbed ISIP Series Part 2: Faces of Depression, which is focused on enabling the House workforce better understand depression and how to help those afflicted with the disorder.
“We have to instill in our children and to the young generation that it’s okay to be who you are. Cultural beliefs are connected to it. When people say you have depression, they think you are weak. But depression is not a weakness of character actually,” Arcena said.
Arcena listed depressed mood, loss of interest/pleasure, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness and thoughts of death as some symptoms of depression.
Based on researches and data, she said women are more prone to depression because they undergo a lot of hormonal changes.
“They have many roles in life, especially when they get pregnant and when they have a lot of children. They term this experiences as hormonal imbalances,” she said.
She said women are more prone to suicidal attempts, but completed suicidal acts are higher in men.
For instance, women can use entertainment tools like watching Korean teleseryes in order to cope. For men there is a stigma that they may not be man enough if they share their problems to others.
“(For them) nakakahiyang magsalita or magsabi ng problema, so at times they would just drink or be alone. That’s the reason why they have more completed suicides than women,” Arcena said.
Arcena advised that those afflicted may be helped by individuals who can listen to them.
“We always term suicidal attempt as a cry for help kasi di na nila kaya. Kumbaga, parang nasa top ka na ng desperation. Ang hirap nun di ba (ung) feeling of being alone, feeling mo walang magsa-save sa iyo. Plus the fact na ikaw ay sobrang accomplished, and there are big failures or factors that pull you down, that can be one source of depression,” she said.
She stressed the importance of family support and shared families bringing to her patients at the slightest symptoms of suicidal attempt.
“There‘s a panic, trauma na baka bumalik siya (suicidal attempt). That’s the reason family support is important,” she said.
To overcome suicidal thoughts, Arcena suggested making sure you have somebody with you 24 hours to watch over you and for you to ventilate how you feel. One can also seek immediate help immediately if he or she can’t control so much suicidal thoughts.
Arcena added that it would be best if at the initial stage of symptoms, professional help is immediately sought and not wait for further symptoms. She counseled that those who are in a depressed mood and loss of interest and pleasure that last for 14 days should seek help immediately.
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