MerckManuals.com focuses on recognizing depression during Mental Illness Awareness Week

Coinciding with Mental Illness Awareness Week, which runs from  Oct. 6-12, MerckManuals.com, an online medical reference, is highlighting expert information on depression and how to recognize the disorder.

The themed content, which is featured on www.merckmanuals.com/home, includes:

• A comprehensive essay on the symptoms and treatment of depression
• An illustrative pencil video that provides an overview of the disorder
• A challenging series of quiz questions on the topic of depression
• A detailed infographic about “Life with Depression”

The compilation of related items showcased during the awareness campaign will be permanently stored on the website. The essay on depression can be accessed directly at any time at www.merckmanuals.com/depression.

While people often use the term depression to describe the sadness or discouraged mood that results from emotionally distressing events, such as a loss of a job or financial hardship, a serious health concern, or death of a loved one, these feelings do not usually represent a mental illness. They are temporary, lasting days rather than weeks or months, and occur in waves that tend to be tied to thoughts or reminders of the distressing event.

“Clinical depression lasts for more than a couple of weeks and may persist for months or even years” said William Coryell, a professor of psychiatry at the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa and a contributor to MerckManuals.com. “Moreover, it interferes with everyday functioning and decreases interest or pleasure in otherwise enjoyable activities.”