Mood Disorders
Among teens across Oakville and Canada
What are Mood Disorders?
1 in 3 Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of anxiety and depression.
Youth aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mood disorders than any other age group.
People with a mood disorder are at much higher risk of developing a long-term medical condition.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
What causes MDD?
Other Causes of MDD:
- alcohol or drug abuse
- certain medical conditions (i.e. cancer, hypothyroidism)
- certain types of medications (i.e. steroids)
What are the symptoms of MDD?
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
What are some treatments for MDD?
- 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.
Steps for preventing 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.
You are NOT alone
About Us
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.