Depression Archives - Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc.

Naomi Osaka’s Battle with Depression

July 9, 2021 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

Naomi Osaka is a 23-year-old tennis rock star who has won four major titles and is second in the world of female tennis competitors. She’s also the highest-paid female athlete in the world, bringing in a whopping $55 million in endorsements and prize money in 2020. But she made headlines in June 2021 when she withdrew from competing in the French Open after playing only one match. Her reason for withdrawing from the competition? To focus on Osaka’s battle with depression.

That’s right. You can be one of the top tennis stars in the world and still suffer from mental illness.

Before the French Open began, Osaka announced that she would not participate in post-match interviews in an effort to safeguard her mental health. Staying true to her word, Osaka skipped out on interviews following her first and only match at the 2021 French Open. This decision drew sharp criticism from reporters and others who felt that she should have participated in interviews like the other athletes. Osaka was also fined $15,000 and received a threat from French Open officials to suspend her from the competition. In turn, Osaka decided to withdraw from the Open.

Osaka’s Battle with Depression

Osaka told officials that she had been suffering from long bouts of depression since winning the US Open in 2018. Since withdrawing from the French Open, Osaka has also withdrawn from competing in the German and Australian Opens.

Depression is characterized by sadness and disinterest in doing normal, everyday things. As you can see, it can affect anyone of any age, no matter their talents, popularity, athletic ability, or financial status.

Despite initial criticism, Osaka has since received praise and support from fans. Many even find her decision to withdraw from these competitions to be inspiring for others who are suffering from a mental health condition.

It’s important to know that praise and support are not enough to “cure” Osaka’s depression. Although depression patients find more success in treatment when they have the support of family and friends, depression is a real health condition that needs treatment from medical and mental health professionals.

If you are suffering from depression symptoms, don’t keep fighting alone. Mantachie Rural Healthcare offers behavioral health services by licensed and highly experienced mental health professionals who truly care about their patients and the patient’s success. To schedule an appointment with one of our providers, dial 662-282-4226.

Filed Under: Health News, Mental Health, Wellness Tagged With: Depression, french open, Mental Health, mental health awareness, naomi osaka, tennis

Depression Myths and the Truths Behind Them

October 20, 2020 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. However, we encounter many misconceptions about depression and what it is and is not. Today we are taking a look at the most common myths surrounding depression and revealing the truth behind them.

Myth #1: Depression isn’t a real disease.

Depression is a very real, complex illness impacted by psychology, sociology, and biology. Anyone can get depression regardless of your family history. Contrary to popular belief, depression doesn’t just affect your emotional health but it can also negatively impact your physical health as well.

Myth #2: Antidepressants are a cure-all for depression.

Although antidepressants are a very powerful and effective treatment for depression in most instances, they aren’t always enough. Psychotherapy or talk therapy often successfully treats depression.

Myth #3: You can snap out of your depression on your own.

Depression is not the same as sadness. Just like any other medical condition, depression requires proper diagnosis and professionally prescribed treatment. People who are depressed cannot talk themselves out of it one day. If you have battled depression for months or even years, it’s time to talk to your provider about treatment.

Myth: 4 Depression is caused by trauma.

Unhappiness or sadness are completely normal emotions following a sad or traumatic event but this is not the same as depression. Depression causes feelings of sadness, emptiness, or loneliness at any time even if things are going relatively well. These feelings typically last for long periods and often have no cause.

Myth #5: If you have a family history of depression, you will get it, too.

Depression is more common in people who have a family history of the condition. However, family history does not guarantee that you will be affected by the illness, too.

Myth #6: Only women get depressed.

This simply is not true. Men experience depression, too, but they may not be as likely to talk about it as women. In fact, the number of men in the US who die by suicide each year is four times that of women. Another reason we urge men to reach out more about their emotional health. Your provider’s office is a safe place to find help.

Myth #7: Once you’re on antidepressants, you’re on them for life.

Some people will need prescribed medication for depression for the rest of their lives. However, not every depression patient fits that description. Each case of depression is different which is why there isn’t one perfect cure-all for the disease. Many patients are able to successfully wean off of medication with their doctor’s help after a certain period of successful treatment.

Are you struggling with depression or have depression symptoms? Don’t suffer alone. Mantachie Rural Health Care offers behavioral and medical help for depression. Click here to request your appointment now.

Filed Under: Mental Health, Pharmacy News Tagged With: Depression, Mental Health

Suicide Prevention and Opioid Recovery

September 15, 2020 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

Statistics paint a bleak picture when it comes to suicide and addiction. A Psychology Today article cites drug and alcohol abuse as the second most common risk factor for suicide. One in three people who take their own life are under the influence of drugs. Poisoning composes the third-leading method of suicide and three-fourths of those deaths by poisoning use drugs. The article points to drug or alcohol abuse as the leading indicator of suicide risk over depression or mental illness. For true suicide prevention, we must support opioid and addiction recovery.

Links between suicide attempts and addiction include depression resulting from an inability to fight an addiction, the loss of relationships due to addiction and the use of drugs and alcohol to mask mental illness. Persons who abuse drugs may also have lowered inhibitions and show a readiness to take more risks.

Addiction Recovery Key to Suicide Prevention

Treatment for opioid addiction addresses not only the known addiction but also the mental illnesses and mental trauma triggering the addiction or depression caused by the addiction. Opioid and addiction recovery are key to suicide prevention, but it’s important for addicts and family members to expect a holistic approach to drug treatment. Managing both underlying mental illnesses and addiction improves an addicts chances at recovery and reduces the risk for suicide.

When an addict seeks treatment, family, friends and their medical team should ask the hard questions “have you considered or attempted suicide or are you considering suicide?”. Asking the hard question does not give your loved one ideas about suicide, but rather opens a conversation about an otherwise stigmatized subject.

Signs to Know

Not every person considering suicide shows signs of depression. Often family and friends piece together signs of a loved one’s suicide plan after the fact. Because of the increased risk of suicide related to drug addiction, it’s imperative for the addict to seek treatment and for friends and family to ask the hard questions.

Signs a person is considering suicide include:

Talking about wanting to die
Increasing drug or alcohol use
Talking about feeling trapped
Displaying increased anger or rage
Talking about not wanting to be a burden to others
Behaving recklessly
Sleeping less or more
Isolating themselves

If someone you know is talking about suicide, whether they have an addition or not:

Ask them if they plan to commit suicide.
Listen without judgement.
Remove objects that could be used for suicide
Stay with the person or leave them in the care of someone else while you get help.
Call the suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Call 9-1-1 if self-harm is imminent.

Parents, spouses, children and friends of addicts worry about overdoses and violence involving their loved one. Suicide adds another line to the worry. Treatment isn’t just about the addiction but about healing behavioral and mental health issues contributing to or caused by the addiction.

If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid or addiction recovery and suicide prevention, call our behavioral health clinic at 662-282-4359 for an appointment or in case of a medical emergency call 9-1-1.

Filed Under: Mental Health, Pharmacy News Tagged With: addiction, Depression, drugs, Opioid Crisis

How Pets Improve Mental Health

August 18, 2020 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

We all know someone or may even be that someone who seems to constantly be rescuing and nursing a stray pet back to health and happiness. Pet lovers and rescuers never seem to get enough of loving on their furry friends. As it happens, studies have shown there’s an actual reason we find pets so appealing–pets improve mental health and literally bring more joy to our lives. Here’s how.

Pets decrease stress, anxiety, and depression.

Pets of all sorts ease stress and cure loneliness. Simply watching fish dance around an aquarium or stroking a furry pet can instantly ease tension and anxiety. Your pet’s companionship itself helps you feel less lonely and they can also help you meet new people. Dog parks are great places to meet people that share at least one common interest (pups!) and pet lover groups of all different types of pets exist on social media and often meet together in person. If rescuing strays gives you an even bigger thrill, joining one of the many rescue groups in our regions is another great way to meet new friends.

Pets that can be walked like dogs and even cats (we’ve seen it happen!) provide another avenue for easing depression and stress–daily walks! Just make sure you research the type of dog breed you are interested in before adopting. Most dog breeds enjoy a good walk every day but working breeds need much more exercise than a walk down the road. You’ll also want to consider your household when adopting a dog. You want a dog that is friendly with everyone in the family including children and other pets. The last thing you want is to return a pet because they didn’t get along with everyone else.

Pets add routine and structure to your day.

Believe it or not, having some sort of routine or structure to your day helps keep depression and anxiety in check. But if you’re retired, disabled, or don’t work outside the home it’s especially easy to lose daily structure. Having a pet to care for returns structure to your day and cures boredom.

Pets build self-confidence.

Few things make us feel better about ourselves than the joyful greeting our pets give us when we come home for the day. Training pets and volunteering with shelters or rescues are other ways we can increase our self-confidence.

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? Getting a pet is a great way to start feeling better. A proper diagnosis and treatment is another way. Mantachie Rural Healthcare provides both primary care and behavioral healthcare for your convenience. Click here to request your appointment now.

Filed Under: Mental Health Tagged With: anxiety, Depression, stress

Managing the Effects of Social Distancing on Mental Illness

April 8, 2020 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

Social distancing is important to slow the spread of the coronavirus. However, it can have unintended mental health consequences. We as humans are designed to be social, to interact with one another, and even to respond to positive touch. While we don’t have a lot of studies surrounding quarantine and isolation, the few studies conducted following the 2004 SARS outbreak show an increase in anxiety and depression. As social distancing drags on, we can expect to see more people suffering from mental illness.

If we could squash the coronavirus and end social distancing today, we would. We would have ended it a month ago if that was in our power, but it’s not. We can, however, recognize what’s happening around us and take steps to care for our mental health and the health of others around us every day.

Admit the truth about our new world

Almost everyone feels a bit “off” right now. We’ve all been affected whether by losing a job, being sent home to telecommute, not being able to find the supplies we need in stores, or being directly exposed to or sick with the virus. Nothing about this situation is okay, and the first step to managing our mental health is to admit it.

Our emotions can range from fear and anxiety to depression and boredom to anger. Admit your emotions and give yourself permission to say this situation isn’t okay. Then think about what parts of the situation you can control.

Stay connected

While we may not be able to hang out with friends after work or have dinner with our extended family, we can take advantage of technology to stay connected. Plan a virtual happy hour with friends online. Video chat with family members. Text friends and check in with them on a daily basis.

Pay particular attention to friends or family members who have suffered from anxiety, depression or loneliness in the past and older adults who live alone. These groups tend to have the hardest time managing the anxiety and depression that comes along with social distancing.

Temper your expectations

Gwyneth Paltrow suggests we use this time away from school and work to learn a new language, pick up an instrument or read a book. Those expectations set the bar pretty high. If you’re doing good to keep up your kids’ homeschool assignments while managing your telecommuting work let that be enough. Taking up a new hobby that doesn’t include monitoring the news every fifteen minutes is a great way to pass the time, but don’t expect your piano skills to be ready for Carnegie Hall in four weeks.

Creating unrealistic expectations for yourself during this time only increases your stress levels.

Create a routine

Routines won’t cure everything, but they place something back into your control. Include time for exercise and being outdoors if you can manage it while observing social distancing rules. Luckily in Mississippi, most of us can.

Staying busy keeps our minds off the news and the fears about job security, paying the bills, and access supplies.

Limit news access

Just because news is available 24/7 doesn’t mean we need to consume it during all those hours. Increased news and social media consumption lead to increased anxiety and depression. Set specific times each day that you’ll check the news and select reputable news sources.

We wish improving and protecting your mental health during these days of uncertainty was as easy as following a few bullet points. We know it’s not. These points can help you find a clear path to managing the anxiety and fear that lives among almost all of us right now. The one thing we ask you not to do is numb your emotions using drugs and alcohol.

If your depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns are affecting your everyday life, it’s time to get some help. Call our mental health clinic at 662-282-4359 to talk to a counselor about options available for you. Don’t suffer alone. Ask for help.

For additional suggestions on managing fear and anxiety during the days ahead check out this article from PSYCOM.

Filed Under: Pharmacy News Tagged With: behavioral health, coronavirus, Depression, Mental Health, suicide

Suicide Prevention Month: What You Need to Know

September 17, 2019 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

An average of 129 suicides occur each day in the United States. 129. Let that number sink in for a moment. That means that today, more than 100 Americans will take their own lives.

Disturbing statistics like this are the reason September has been recognized as Suicide Prevention Month. Organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline understand the causes of suicide and believe this is one manner of death that can be prevented.

The Causes of Suicide

Unlike most illnesses or causes of death, the exact cause of each individual suicide can’t always be narrowed down. However, a number of common risk factors are found in many suicide victims according to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Mental disorders, particularly mood disorders such as schizophrenia and some personality disorders.
Drug addiction or alcohol abuse
History of abuse or trauma
Feelings of hopelessness
Aggressive or impulsive tendencies
A major physical illness or injury
Lack of healthcare, particularly for mental or substance abuse treatment
Relationship, job or financial loss
Family history of suicide
Previous suicide attempts
Lack of social support; stigma surrounding mental health, substance abuse, and suicide
Local clusters of suicide
Ease of access to means of suicide
Religious or cultural beliefs, especially if suicide is viewed as a noble resolution for a problem
Exposure to others who have committed suicide including in real life, internet or media

As you can see, there’s no shortage of risk factors for suicide. It’s important to note that white, middle-aged men are at a greater risk for suicide than any other group. In fact, white males accounted for almost 70% of suicides that occurred in the U.S. in 2017.

Spotting the Risks

Suicide Prevention Month is a great time to remember to be aware of the risks of suicide. You already know the risk factors, but you also need to recognize the warning signs that come with those factors. You should get help if you or someone you love:

Talks about wanting to die.
Looks for means for suicide, such as searching for ways online or buying a gun.
Speaks about feelings of hopelessness, a lack of a will to live, unbearable pain, or being a burden to others.
Begins behaving recklessly or acts anxious or agitated
Becomes increasingly isolated or withdrawn.
Sleeps too much or too little.
Displays extreme mood swings, shows rage, or speaks of revenge.

If you recognized any of these behaviors or risk factors in yourself or a loved one, don’t wait to reach out and get help. Mantachie Rural Health Care has joined the fight against suicide by providing accessible and affordable healthcare and behavioral healthcare to everyone in our community. Contact us today to learn how we can help you or your loved one address mental and physical issues that increase the risk of suicide.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for immediate help. Suicide Prevention Month spreads awareness and saves lives. By sharing this valuable information with someone, you might save their life.

Filed Under: Pharmacy News Tagged With: addiction, behavioral health, Depression, Mental Health

GOT’s Sophie Turner Talks Mental Health, Depression

July 2, 2019 By Mantachie Rural Health Care, Inc. Leave a Comment

Sophie Turner depression — Image credits Gage Skidmore

On HBO’s recently completed series Game of Thrones, Sophie Turner played Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell and eventual Queen of the North. In real life, she’s a young adult who suffers from depression for which she’s sought counseling and takes prescribed medications.

In an interview on Dr. Phil McGraw’s podcast Phil in the Blanks, Turner opened up about her depression and mental health struggles. Her depression materialized when she was 17, about four years into her work with Game of Thrones. Although she doesn’t blame social media entirely for her depression, she did say comments on social media about her character’s weight gain or “spotty” complexion added to her depression.

Let’s Talk Numbers

Turner isn’t alone as a teen suffering from depression. Statistics say 20% of teens will be affected by depression before they reach adulthood. The average Mississippi school has 450 students. This statistic means 90 of them will likely deal with depression before they reach the age of twenty.

Only 30% of teens with depression will seek treatment. So out of those 90 students, only 30 will receive the help they need.

Which leads us to the statistic none of us want to talk about, suicide is the third leading cause of death of teenagers.

Removing the Stigma

Hollywood stars aren’t always great at promoting healthy lifestyles. Luckily, many actors, actresses and other performers are openly discussing their mental health challenges. Many of those challenges, like Demi Lovato’s, include substance abuse.

The more we talk about mental health the same way we discuss heart health and diabetes, the easier it becomes for teens and adults to seek out the help they need. We can all contribute to efforts to remove the stigma of seeking counseling or other mental health support.

Talk openly about mental health.
Show compassion for those with mental illness.
Be supportive of those who are struggling with mental illness.
Choose your words carefully. (i.e. don’t use mental illness diagnosis like OCD or bipolar as adjectives and don’t label people with mental illness as “crazy” or “insane”.)
Education yourself.
Encourage equality between mental and physical illnesses.

As children and teens see the adults in their lives responding differently to mental illness, they’ll respond differently as well. Which means they’ll be more likely to speak up and receive the treatment they need.

Recognize the Symptoms

The first step to ensuring your child receives the help they need is recognizing the symptoms.

Has your child’s behavior changed?
Is their school work suffering?
Are they having difficulties at school, home or work?
Have their sleep patterns changed?
Do they have a sensitivity to light or sound that has lasted longer than two weeks?
Are they feeling sad, hopeless or worthless?
Have their eating habits changed (either eating too much or not enough)?
Do they have problems with concentration or memory?

Seek Help

If you’ve recognized the signs of depression or other mental illness in your teen or your teen has asked you for help, you don’t have to manage this alone. Our behavioral health specialists can guide you and your family as you seek the help you need. Your willingness to help your teen find help continues to remove the stigma attached to mental illness. Make an appointment with one of our counselors by calling 662-282-4359.

Filed Under: Pharmacy News Tagged With: Depression, Mental Health