According to World Health Organization (WHO), India's depression levels are as high as 36 percent and shockingly this number is the highest in the world. What makes this even more alarming is the fact that WHO projects depression to be the second leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. However, the biggest challenge lies elsewhere; it is about mental and physical illnesses being treated differently in our country (excerpt taken from TOI).

Around 65% youth between the age group of 22-25 years show early signs of depression, claims a new study. An online survey was conducted by ICICI Lombard wherein 1,100 male and female between the age group of 22-50 years in the country responded to the queries.The survey said that 65% of the youth respondents between the age group of 22-25 displayed early signs of depression. The study further highlights that lower income levels are also a major cause of stress among people. Additionally, 64% respondents were sleep deprived, which is among the leading symptoms of depression. Lack of sleep is a prominent cause of poor mental wellness, whereas the overall mental wellness levels among women are higher (66%) when compared to males (55%), the survey revealed.(excerpt taken from Hindustan times).

Symptoms

People with a depressed mood can feel-  

  • Sad  
  • Anxious  
  • Emptiness
  • Hopeless  
  • Helplessness
  • Worthless
  • Feeling guilty
  • Feeling  irritable  
  • Angry  
  • Ashamed or restless 
  • May lose interest in activities that were once pleasurable,  
  • Experience loss of appetite or overeating,  
  • Have problems concentrating, 
  • Remembering details or making decisions, 
  • Experience relationship difficulties
  • Attempt or commit suicide  
  • Insomnia, 
  • Excessive sleeping, fatigue, aches, pains, digestive problems, or reduced energy may also be present.   

How to get out of it?

There are many ways in which one can get out of depression. Some of them are as follows:

1) Higher interaction with people

2) Discuss the difficulties faced in everyday life

3) Getting enrolled in clubs and gaming sessions

4) Gaining happiness from small things

5) Negating failures

6) Do not stay alone

7) Enjoy with everyone

Because of the daily hectic lifestyle, one cannot generally get time for themselves.Hence amidst the continuous and monotonous everyday life, depression slowly gets inside an individual.

Walking is an unconventional but impressive way to get out of depression. Generally, depression patients try to stay on his or her own and hence doesn't interact or meet many people.The only way to get him or her out of the prevailing depression is to make him or she interact or at least be around different people. So once a depressed patient goes out of home for a walk, he or she is compelled to at least be in an environment full of known and unknown people. So, the loneliness which adds to the depression exponentially is nullified to some extent. 

A large Australian study suggests, Moderate-intensity exercise, or even just walking, can improve quality of life for depressed middle-aged women. Women who averaged150 minutes of moderate exercise (golf, tennis, aerobics classes, swimming, or dancing) or 200 minutes of walking every week had more energy, socialized more, felt better emotionally, and weren't as limited by their depression when researchers followed up after three years.

Do not ignore depression or other emotional turmoils. Try to keep yourself happy and if you cannot do so, please go down for counselling sessions and speak your heart out. You will feel the relief and satisfaction after each session.