Story by Heidi Shoemaker
Health & Lifestyle
Story by Betty Klinck
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Depression, like most mental illnesses, lies on a spectrum,” says Kirk Chung, M.D., medical director of Kettering Adventist HealthCare’s Behavioral Medicine Center in Dayton, Ohio. “Everyone feels down from time to time. Depression, as an illness, is defined by the intensity of its symptoms and duration.”
He adds, major depression is diagnosed by a person suffering with at least five of the following symptoms for a two-week period or longer:
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Marissa Leslie, M.D., medical director of Adventist HealthCare’s Behavioral Health division in Gaithersburg, Md., says depression should be viewed more like a very severe flu, a serious illness not dependent on faith.
We don’t tell people with the flu to just pray. We tell them to sleep and drink plenty of water. And we ask how we can help.”
In addition to the powerful tool of prayer, here are a few tangible things she suggests to help loved ones dealing with depression:
Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Cover images by Ty Wright/AP Images