Employee Resources
What Causes Depression
Several factors play a role in the onset of depression:
- Biochemistry. Disturbances in chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine, are thought to be connected to certain symptoms of depression, including anxiety, irritability, and fatigue.
- Genetics. Depression runs in families. For example, if one identical twin has depression, the other twin has a 70% chance of also having the illness sometime in life.
- Thinking Patterns. People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more vulnerable to depression.
- Environmental factors. Repeated exposure to violence, neglect, poverty, or physical, sexual, or mental abuse may make people who are already susceptible to depression all the more vulnerable to the illness.
- Other medical conditions. People with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, stroke, chronic pain, alcoholism or other drug disorders, heart disease or HIV are at higher risk for depression.
- The birth of a baby. Although getting the “blues” is common among new mothers, symptoms that are prolonged or severe may indicate postpartum depression.
Information taken from the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, Depression Brochure. Click here to download the brochure. We would be happy to send your office fifty brochures, free of charge. Please contact us for more information.