Depression is a common mental illness that negatively impacts the way you feel, think, and act. Depression causes feelings such as sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt. Some also find that they lose interest in activities they once enjoyed as well as withdraw from others. This may lead to a variety of emotional and/or physical issues which may also impact one’s ability to function on a daily basis.

Symptoms of depression vary from mild to severe and must last a minimum of two weeks in order to be diagnosed with clinical depression. Furthermore, there are a variety of medical conditions that may mimic symptoms of depression thus it is important to rule out medical causes.

For more information, please consult with your Family Physician. The NYFHT social work team also offers individual counselling and group programs for depression. If you are interested, please speak with your Family Physician to make a referral.
Learn more about Depression Disorders at the Mood Disorders Society of Canada (https://mdsc.ca/) or the Canadian Mental Health Association (http://www.cmha.ca/).