Clinical depression is a common mental illness, but even more common in those also suffering a serious medical illness, this is called co-occurring depression. Many times co-occurring depression and its symptoms are ignored as a person deals with their serious physical illness.

Unfortunately, co-occurring depression symptoms are many times mistaken for symptoms of the physical illness or masked by the seriousness of the physical illness. Such illnesses as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes can overwhelm a person physically and mentally, and they are left feeling listless, tired, and depressed. Doctors can treat the symptoms with drugs, but the underlying depression is left untreated.

According to the National Mental Health Association, the more severe the medical condition, the more likely that patient will experience clinical depression. People with depression experience greater distress, an increase in impaired functioning and less ability to follow medical regimens, thus hindering the treatment of any other medical conditions.

According to research, nearly 74 percent of Americans who seek help for depression or symptoms of depression will go to a primary care physician rather than a mental health professional. Complicating matters, the diagnosis of depression is missed 50 percent of the time in primary care settings. So the NMHA recommends that people seeking help for depression inform their primary care physician, but make an appointment with a mental health care professional who is trained to diagnose mental illnesses.

Research presents a staggering picture of how mental health and physical health are closely related. Depression occurs in 40 to 65 percent of patients who have experienced a heart attack and 20 percent of people with coronary heart disease, whom have not even suffered a heart attack. After a heart attack, patients with clinical depression have a three to four times greater chance of death within the next six months. People suffering from a stroke are 10 to 27 percent more likely to experience depression that can last up to a year after the stroke.

One in four people with cancer suffer from clinical depression, too. Depression is sometimes mistaken as a side effect of some treatments for cancer like corticosteroids or chemotherapy. Also, depressive symptoms can be mistakenly attributed to the cancer itself, which can also cause appetite and weight loss, insomnia and loss of energy.

Luckily, treatment offers a solution. First, recognize the symptoms of depression and don’t assume that these symptoms are from the physical disease the person is suffering from:

·          Weight loss

·          Sleep disturbances

·          Low energy levels

·          Apathy

·          Poor concentration and memory loss,

·          Crying frequently or getting angry frequently or no reason.

Then seek a medical diagnosis from a trained mental health professional if these symptoms occur often or are affecting your daily life. Finally, begin treatment.

Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce discomfort and morbidity, and can also reduce the costs associated with misdiagnosis, and the risks and costs associated with suicide. People who get treatment for co-occurring depression often experience an improvement in their overall medical condition, better compliance with general medical care and a better quality of life.

For more information on co-occurring depression call Border Area Mental Health Services. To reach Border Area Mental Health Services in Grant and Hidalgo Counties, call 388-4412; in Catron County, call 533-6649 for referral; in Luna County, call 546-2174.  For CRISIS, call 538-3488 or outside Silver City, call 1-800-426-0997.