How do Hispanics experience depression?

People from different cultures express symptoms of depression in various ways. In addition to changes in their mood, Hispanics tend to experience depression as bodily aches and pains (like stomachaches, backaches or headaches) that persist despite medical treatment. Depression is often described by Hispanics as feeling nervous or tired. Other symptoms of depression include changes in sleeping or eating patterns, restlessness or irritability, and difficulty concentrating or remembering.

How is clinical depression different from sadness?

It's normal to feel sadness during different situations that life brings. Moving far away from your country of origin and your family, the death of a friend or loved one, divorce, losing a job, even losing good health due to illness – all can lead to feelings of sadness. Recent immigrants often believe feelings of loss and stress are part of moving to a new country. However, if the sadness continues for longer than two weeks, it is possible you may be experiencing clinical depression and should seek professional help.

Clinical depression is a serious but treatable medical illness, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. Many people think that depression is normal for older adults, teenagers, new mothers, menopausal women, or those with a chronic illness. The truth is, clinical depression is never "normal," regardless of your age or life situation. The suffering of those experiencing clinical depression is unnecessary. Anyone experiencing depressive symptoms should be evaluated and treated.

Who can get clinical depression?

It doesn't matter whether you are Mexican-American or Cuban-American, or whether your family is from Puerto Rico, Columbia, Panama, the Dominican Republic or any other Latin American country. Anyone can experience clinical depression. Regardless of age, gender, race or income, depression takes the pleasure out of life, straining professional and personal relationships and complicating other medical conditions. Depression can even lead to suicide.

Who is at risk for depression?

If someone in your family has had clinical depression, you are at higher risk of developing depression. But clinical depression can also occur in people with no family history of depression.

Women are more than twice as likely as men to experience clinical depression. Although the reasons for this difference are not known, research suggests that biological differences in women – such as hormonal changes and genetics – may contribute to depression. Additionally, social factors, such as greater stresses from work and family responsibilities, the roles and expectations of women, and even the increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty among women, may lead to higher rates of clinical depression.

Clinical depression is more likely to occur with certain illnesses, such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Any depressive symptoms with other illnesses should be reported to your doctor. It is important that depression be treated in addition to the physical illnesses.

Is depression treatable?

Clinical depression is one of the most treatable of all medical illnesses. In fact, more than 80% of people with depression can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Only a doctor or a qualified mental health professional can decide if someone has clinical depression. As with many illnesses, the earlier treatment begins, the more effective it can be.

You cannot treat depression on your own. Some people are embarrassed to get help for depression or are reluctant to talk about how they are feeling with someone they don't know. Often people will turn to alcohol or drugs for relief, but this only makes the depression worse in the long run. Some people believe that having depression means you are "crazy" or "out of your mind." Others believe that depression will just go away by itself. Such views are simply wrong. Like any other serious illness, clinical depression requires professional treatment.

Life can be enjoyable again! With recognition and treatment, clinical depression can be overcome! Talk with your doctor or a qualified mental health professional if you think you may have symptoms of clinical depression. To determine whether you are experiencing symptoms, take our confidential depression-screening test.

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