Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are a group of mental illnesses that affect individuals in their thoughts, relationships, and behaviours. Common forms of mood disorders include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia.

Also known as the Common Cold of mental disorders, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most common form of mood disorders affecting millions of people worldwide.

The exact causes of MDD remain unknown. However there are multiple environmental factors that influence the development of MDD. A combination of biological and stress factors, as well as hormonal imbalance can affect the brain's ability to maintain mood stability.

Other Causes of MDD:

• alcohol or drug abuse
• certain medical conditions (i.e. cancer, hypothyroidism)
• certain types of medications (i.e. steroids)

The most common symptoms of MDD include frequently feeling sad or irritable, having a change in appetite, or experiencing restlessness.

Other Symptoms of MDD:

• less interest in most activities enjoyed previously
• sudden loss or gain weight
• altered or inconsistent sleep schedules
• feeling tired and having a lack of energy
  
• feeling worthless or guilty
• difficulty in concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
• thoughts of self-harm and suicide

• The two most common methods of treatment are medication and psychotherapy.
• Lifestyle adjustments that help ease certain symptoms are also recommended by psychiatrists.
• However, people diagnosed severe levels of MDD receive professional care and treatment in a hospital setting.
• Some patients may require an outpatient treatment program until symptoms improve.

Prevention mechanism for MDD may be perceived to be somewhat simple and obvious but maybe difficult to follow through for individuals experiencing MDD.

S.E.E. for Yourself

1. Sleep Well

• A constant schedule of high quality sleep is pivotal in the prevention or treatment of MDD.

2. Eat Well

• Often found in Salmon, omega-3 fatty acids are known to easily repair and reproduce brain cell membrane that interact with mood-related molecules inside the brain.
• Easily found in fruits or dietary supplements, vitamin B or vitamin D are also crucial in aiding brain cell repair and can be easily acquired through common fruits and supplements.

3. Exercise Well

• Although restlessness may be potentially experienced from MDD, remaining physically active is one of the most crucial parts in preventing or overcoming MDD.

Approximately 3.2 million students across Canada have struggled with or are currently struggling with depression. It is NEVER too late to reach out to a trusted friend, parent, or counsellor. If you see anyone struggling, say something. This is a problem that can only be solved if we, as a community, address this together. YOU can make a difference today.

Jayne Kang and Sricherry Nannapaneni

Our Mission

To spread awareness of mood disorders affecting youth.

Our Story

Hi, our names are Jayne Kang and Sricherry Nannapaneni, and we are members of HOSA; a club for future health care professionals. Through this club, we are currently developing a project to promote awareness on mood disorders, more specifically MDD, since these affect a large portion of teenagers today. In selecting a topic for our community project, we craved a topic that would emphasize the importance of addressing mood disorders and raising awareness of how prevalent it is among youth in our local communities. After discovering through research that only 30% of depressed teens are being treated for it, we decided that it was vital to acknowledge this issue and to create a safe space for youth to express their concerns. We hope to take this initiative in our community to promote awareness on this topic and create positive environments for those who are affected by it.

By taking less than 45 seconds to complete the survey below, you are already supporting our campaign to spread awareness of mood disorders and creating a difference in your local community.

email: moodawarenessoakville@gmail.com

insta: @moodawarenessoakville

twitter: @moodoakville