According to Health Canada and Statistics Canada, approximately eight per cent of adult Canadians will experience a major depression at some point in their lives, and around five per cent will in any given year. In one year, more than 12 million people across Canada were diagnosed with depression. Suicide rates in Canada have been rising, and in the past three decades, more than 100,000 of Canadians have died by suicide. More people died at their own hands than motor vehicle accidents in 2006.
British Columbia suicide rates have remained fairly stable, roughly 500 per year. Rates of depression are especially high among Canadian youth, suicide is the second leading cause of death for B.C. youth aged 12 to 18.
You or someone you know may be experiencing these symptoms of depression:
n Feeling worthless, helpless or hopeless
n Sleeping or eating more or less than usual
n Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
n Decreased sex drive
n Avoiding other people
n Overwhelming feelings of sadness or grief
n Loss of energy, feeling very tired
Neil Nedley, MD, has put together an eight-week Depression Recovery Program from his 17-plus years of experience helping his patients. This program teaches how to improve brain function, increase energy, boost concentration, engage in healthy sleep habits, improve physical performance and gain renewed hope.
This is the perfect time for a person to find out if this Depression Recovery Program is right for you or a friend. Don’t miss a free introductory session on the power of the brain, which will be held on Monday or Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church, where the DVD program will be hosted. The church is at 1802 – 45th Ave.
This is an excellent mental health education program that not only helps prevent depression, it helps with stress control; helps to achieve optimal mental health; it is great for personal or professional development. People of all walks of life or faith are welcome, as well as previous alumni.
For more information, please call Debbie at 250-545-3969, ext. 3, or e-mail depressionthewayout@gmail.com
Debbie Mather is director of the program for Nedley Health Solutions.
