Depression: Unlocking the Door to Recovery Paper Example

Introduction

Many people that suffer from depression bottle it up inside without seeking help or treatment, which may have severe effects on the affected. Speaking up on depression is immense, and those suffering from depression can get better with the right and correct treatment. There are many ways to recovery, and every individual may be different. One can attend a self-help group, speak to a clinician, speak to a trusted close person, or seek medication. Speaking up helps one explain their condition and symptoms, which helps those willing to assist, including the victim, understand the condition. This paper will analyze and evaluate a brochure on depression care speak ups, criticize where necessary, and recommend what should be added or omitted from the brochure.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Speak Up Depression Brochure

A patient speaks up brochure by the joint commission that targets patients suffering from depression and their advocates to ensure that they are well informed and involved in their health.

Summary

The brochure provides guidelines and precautions the patient who is suffering from depression should look out for. It has clearly outlined the warning signs of depression, such as little or no interest in sex, withdrawal, loss of interest in almost all activities, irritability and nervousness, eating more or less than usual, feeling restless and agitated, and having suicidal thoughts. (“Joint Commission, n.d). The brochure further informs that anyone can be affected by depression, especially those with a family history of bipolar disorder and substance abuse, trauma such as childhood neglect, stressful events such as divorce, the persons with other mental conditions such as anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The brochure recommends that anyone feeling like they are depressed should focus on speaking up and asking for help from a close friend, family member, doctor, or even someone in your faith community (“Joint Commission, n.d). By speaking up to a doctor or therapist, they help determine the condition and offer necessary medical help. The patient should be aware of the treatment options such as therapy, medicines, and support groups.

The brochure provides information on the side effects of leaving depression untreated; unemployment, suicide, and relationship issues. Therefore, the patient is advised to avoid using alternatives such as alcohol that worsen the situation but rather seek treatment because it works. It recommends that talk therapy is a good treatment for depression since it helps patients learn about their depression and how to manage it (“Joint Commission, n.d). Patients are encouraged to ask for referrals if they feel therapy is not working. Patient are encouraged to ask questions such as how therapy will be helpful, the kid of therapy they recommend, if they have previously treated patients with similar symptoms, the duration of the treatment, if treatment is confidential, how they develop treatment plan, and the availability in case of emergency (“Joint Commission, n.d).

Depression patients are encouraged to make inquiries about the medicines prescribed. They should not shy from asking why the medicines are right for them, the side effects, effects of missing a dose, what to do if medicines make them feel worse, and the usage of the medicines in cases of pregnancy (“Joint Commission, n.d). The patient is advised to have an advocate who could be a family member or a friend. Advocates will likely ask questions on behalf, make appointments, recognize changes in the patient's condition, and motivate them.

To get better, the depression patient is advised to follow the treatment plan, stick to the daily routine, exercise and eat healthily, spend time outdoors, join support groups, and get enough sleep (“Joint Commission, n.d). Further, the brochure provides the patient with vital information on where to seek help, such referrals, locating local treatment programs, mental health first aid, and helping in paying for medication.

Evaluation

The topic was selected because it is vital in creating awareness on matters of depression in adults and prevent adverse mental disorders early enough. This article applies to people undergoing depression and their advocates or family members. However, the information could also be useful in providing a hint to patients with other acute illnesses on how and when to speak up concerning their care safety.

The information in the brochure was presented very clearly for any patient or advocate to grasp. The data is short, precise, and presented in point form, and thus the patient can quickly identify the information with no struggle. It makes it easier for the patient to understand the brochure's data.

These guidelines are beneficial for depression patients, their advocates, and every other person who might suffer depression in the future. Provision of instructions such as the signs to observe, when to speak up, how one can get help, vital information about their medication and forms of treatment is very beneficial.

Nonetheless, as much as these guidelines help prevent adverse depressive effects and disorders among individuals, there is a lack of appropriateness and effectiveness of these strategies since they transfer responsibility to the already deprived patient. Questions on medication such as why the medication is right, what to do if the medicine makes one feel worse are some of the issues that should be addressed by the therapist without the patient asking.

The brochure has not also guided individuals on how to speak up about their condition since it's the biggest problem these individuals face when they want to speak up. Words to use, how to start, and the approach to use have not been included. Additionally, guidelines on a diet during depression have not been provided by the brochure. Diet has proven to be a vital component of mental health and should be incorporated during, before, or after depression (Tello, 2020).

Recommendations

Even though patients have the slightest depression symptoms, they should be allocated to family members or instead advocates to help them in taking instructions and also speak up on their behalf.

The brochure should also involve the diet that anyone undergoing depression should incorporate to help ease the symptoms that sometimes could be mild or worse. Lifestyle therapies such as eating more of some foods and less or none help manage the depressive symptoms. Focus on whole foods high in nutrients, and limited refined, junk, and fried foods help reduce depression symptoms (Johnson, 2019).

It should also give guidelines to the patients on how to speak up about depression. Many depression victims are always willing to talk about their condition, but it becomes difficult to know how to bring it up with family and friends, the right words to use, or even how to start (King, 2016). An emotional approach such as how one is feeling, work, and productivity approach i.e., how it has affected their work and statistical approach, can be the right approaches to be used by the depression patient.

Conclusion

Depression and other mental problems are very challenging and intricate. Therefore, it is important to speak up and get support when facing it. By following the laid guidelines in the brochure will be very helpful to the depression patient and their families, and therefore these guidelines provided should not be overlooked.

References

Johnson, J. (2019, August 20). What Foods are Good for Helping Depression? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318428

King, E. (2016, June 17). How to Speak up about Depression. Body and Soul. https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/mind-body/wellbeing/how-to-speak-up-about-depression/news-story/46404d9a8a14eca55876a4ce879133b1

Tello, M. (2020, January 29). Diet and Depression. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/diet-and-depression-2018022213309

The Joint Commission. (N.d). Speak Up Disease Care: Diabetes- Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital. The Joint Commission. https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/speak-up/speak-up-depression-brochure-5-15-2020.pdf?db=web&hash=0F349C6C4E285AFD6154120689BCC1C1