It is true that everyone feels a touch of the blues now and then, but living with clinical depression can be overwhelming. Symptoms can last weeks, months or even years, affecting mood, thinking, sleep, appetite, memory, interests and energy.

While depression manifests itself with feelings of isolation and aloneness, those suffering from depression are far from alone in their struggles. It is estimated that as much as 25% of the American population suffers from depression, making it the most prevalent emotional disorder in our country.

Depression is a very real illness, not a personal weakness. Trying to ignore it will not make it go away. In fact, when one chooses to resist warning signs of depression, symptoms are likely to become more severe.

Among the great number of symptoms brought on by depression, a short list includes: persistent sadness and anxiety; feelings of hopelessness, guilt or helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities; decreased energy and fatigue; difficulty concentrating; restlessness; inability to sleep or oversleeping; changes in appetite or weight; decrease in sex drive; and thoughts of death or suicide.

With certain types of mood disorders, symptoms become more intense, such as: extreme irritability; euphoric “highs;” racing thoughts or rapid speech; decreased need for sleep; increased sexual drive; abuse of drugs and alcohol; and reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions or erratic driving.

Along with causing great struggles in a person’s life, depression spills over to affect the entire family. Most vulnerable are the children.

When living with a depressed parent, children oftentimes feel unlovable and unloved, thinking they are the cause of a parent’s sadness, anger or seeming lack of interest. They watch and learn from their parents, picking up moods, how to interact with others, approaches to communication, and generally mimicking what they see as “normal.” So, when parental depression goes untreated, children are at a much higher risk to suffer depression themselves, taking it into adulthood and passing it on to the next generation. But this does not have to be the case.

In recent years, a first of its kind study was conducted by Dr. William R. Beardslee (psychiatrist-in-chief) and colleagues at the Children’s Hospital Boston, Judge Baker Children’s Center. During this groundbreaking work, researchers developed and studied two intervention techniques to help depressed parents prevent depressive symptoms in their children, subsequently providing a healthier, more productive environment at home. The team achieved positive results.

Since the time of that study, there has been a national effort to reach out to parents with depression in order to inform and show them that they can be good parents with the help of professional support.

If you are uncertain about whether depression is affecting yours and your family’s lives, take the first step in discovering if that might be the case. Mental Health Services for Clark and Madison Counties (MHS) provides free, anonymous and confidential online screenings 24-hours-a-day. They can be accessed from the privacy of your home or office by simply clicking on the “Anonymous Screenings” button located at the left of your screen on this website.

At MHS, we want to raise local awareness about depression and help alleviate the tremendous stress depression places on families. With treatment and family communication, individuals improve, families become healthier, and children grow up stronger, more resilient, and confident that they are loved.

If you are or know a parent suffering the pains of depression, take advantage of these free, anonymous screenings. They promote early detection and can help individuals move towards the path of help and recovery.