Depression On The Rise Among Med School Students

On the surface, you would think that medical students have a lot to be excited about. They’re on a path toward a lucrative and rewarding career and, let’s face it, just getting into an M.D. program alone is something to be proud of. But, according to new research uncovered by CNBC, that is not the case. Apparently young doctoral interns are suffering from depression at an alarming rate.

The article starts out by highlighting some serious challenges that these young people face. Challenges that many who are not close to programs like this may be aware of. For starters, most medical students suffer from sleep deprivation, peer hazing and harsh deadlines that could impact their graduation. And apparently, it only gets worse from there. After completing the schooling component, these student have to spend up to two years as residents, literally thrown into the fire of trauma cases, emergencies and demanding supervisors.

Issues like this have not only led to a large amount of depression cases among this set (as much as 50 percent), but also an increase in suicides.

“During the first year of training, rates of depression go up, risk of suicide goes up, anxiety goes up and part of what we’re studying is why that is and who’s at risk and what environmental elements put them at risk,” Dr. Srijan Sen, a professor of depression and neurosciences, told CNBC in the article. “We find that many of the interns may start out fine, and about half get depressed by the end of the year.”

Indeed, in a survey shared by The Washington Post, it was revealed that roughly 10 percent of all U.S. medical students have reported having thoughts of killing themselves during the first year of their program. The same research also showed these 20-somethings suffer from depression at rates that are 15 to 30 percent greater than that of the general population.

And sadly, the data revealed that superiors in the field are not doing much to help. In fact, they may actually be exacerbating the problem.

“Rather than receiving support in these situations, these students often suffer humiliation from senior clinicians,” writer Nathanial Morris explained in The Post. “This hierarchy engenders a culture of bullying toward medical trainees. More than 80 percent of medical students report mistreatment from supervisors. I’ve seen classmates shouted at, cursed at and mocked in clinical settings. A surgeon referred to me as ‘Helen Keller’ because I couldn’t suture fast enough.”

We understand that depression can impact people from every background and within every profession. If you know any young people who may be putting too much pressure on themselves (via med school or not), please reach out and let them know there is help available.

 

 

When Does Grief Become Unhealthy?

Grief is something that all of us must face at some point in our lives. But where are the lines drawn? When does “normal mourning” for a lost loved one turn into depression and unhealthy behavior? Truthfully those lines aren’t always black and white, but a new article from The Cleveland Clinic does a nice job of identifying important warning signs.

The insightful piece does hone in on the devastation a person may feel after a close loved one has passed away. Death (or even a sudden job loss or injury) can lead to drastic changes to a person’s lifestyle. Cleveland Clinic director Amy Greene encourages people to open themselves up to these challenging situations and not rush through the pain.

“We live in a culture that wants to quickly move past grief, as though it were an obstacle,” she explained in the article. “We just want to be ‘over it.’ But the truth is, it’s normal for someone who is grieving to feel off-kilter for a very long time. Adjusting to the new reality takes time and does not follow a totally predictable pattern (in spite of what many people will tell you).”

Greene then points out how people should always assess their feelings and take note of patterns that start to become unhealthy. While the grieving described above is very normal, there are turning points which should not be ignored.

Consistent lack of sleep, for example, can be a sign that grief may be turning into depression. Unhealthy eating and drinking habits are another indicator called out in the article, particularly if they last more than three to four weeks.

A feeling of loneliness can also be a borderline symptom. On the one hand, yes it is very normal to want to grieve in private and withdraw from social circles after a major loss. But when that behavior begins to morph into complete isolation, it may be time to seek out help.

Becoming too sedentary is another warning sign to look out for (per the article). Greene recommends “moving your body” even during the grieving period. Going for walks (alone or with company), getting outdoors and staying active are a good methods to avoid depression.

One other big tool to avoid unhealthy grieving is simply setting aside time for a support group. As Greene accentuated, having camaraderie and listening to people in similar situations is a big part of the healing process.

“I’ve seen how much this can be a reprieve; grievers can see an example of others who have coped and are getting through the toughest parts,” Greene concluded. “It helps many people realize, ‘I’m not alone.’ They see that grief is a human thing we all share.”

Links Discovered Between Teen & Parent Depression

Is sadness contagious? That is probably too bold of a statement to make, but a new study claims that households with a depressed teen often include a depressed parent as well. Termed a “ripple effect” by The Atlantic, it is research that is both alarming and encouraging. Particularly because further data is showing that one family overcomes their issues, so can another.

This particular study included several years of research and monitored 325 teens who were clinically depressed, along with their parents or caregivers. Northwestern University professor Kelsey R. Howard, M.S. oversaw much of the research, which also pointed to an increase in teen diagnoses.

“Depression is a massive public health concern that will take a variety of approaches to better manage,” he explained. “We believe our study is among the first to evaluate how the emotional health of a child can impact that of the parent.”

One interesting component regarding the adults was that not all caregivers had biological connections to the children. In fact, a good portion were adoptive parents. Regardless, it was shown that mom or dad’s depression affected both their adopted and non-adopted children. Now other research has shown a genetic link with issues like depression, but this proves that environmental factors are also at play.

“The concept of emotions being ‘contagious’ and spreading from person to person is well-known by psychologists,” Howard added in the article. “This work opens up a range of possibilities for future research on the family-wide effects of treatment for adolescent depression.”

But as we mentioned before, there were quite a few positives to arise from this research as well. One very encouraging stat showed that when depressed teens go through some version of mental-health treatment, symptoms of depression in their parents lessen. So, in many ways, “happier kids lead to happier parents” and certainly the vice versa is true as well.

One big recommendation is opening up an entire family to mental health treatment. Sure the teenage child may be exhibiting more outwardly depressed symptoms, but bringing parents into therapy can open up the healing process on a much grander scale.

As Howard concluded in the article; though alarming, there are quite a few silver linings to come out of this data. And he is certainly hopeful that families can use this information to make a positive change.

“It’s terrific to have that data,” he explained. “I think that it highlights our need to look at the interaction between a teen and their family members … The more support the family can get, the better.”

How Science Is Helping In The Fight Against Depression

Though depression most certainly taps into our emotions, there has always been a scientific element to it as well. Chemical imbalances in the brain are what led to the effectiveness of medications like Prozac. And now, it appears as though irregularities in people’s blood could be another contributing factor.

USA Today recently published an article that utilized research released from Stanford University. Their findings showed that people who suffer from depression typically have low levels of acetyl-L-carnitine, which is a specific biomarker in the blood. The lack of this element was shown to not only contribute to the severity of a person’s sadness, but also its duration.

Study co-author (and Stanford professor) Natalie Rasgon released a statement about the findings, classifying them as a major breakthrough. “This is truly an exciting addition to our understanding of the mechanisms of depressive illness,” she explained on the site.

To come to this conclusion, Rasgon and her team conducted a series of experiments on laboratory rodents. Those who had a deficiency in this particular biomarker showed stronger depression symptoms. What was most encouraging was that when acetyl-L-carnitine supplements were introduced, behaviors began to normalize.

Humans were also looked at for the study. Many of the participants had previously been diagnosed with depression. Of that set, lower levels of acetyl-L-carnitine were positively identified in their bloodstreams. Those who had the least amount of these biomarkers suffered from the most severe symptoms.

“In patients with depression, something is causing a problem in the mechanisms related to the biology of (acetyl-L-carnitine),” study co-author Carla Nasca explained in a statement. “And, surprisingly, the deficiency in (acetyl-L-carnitine) is even stronger in patients that don’t respond to standard antidepressants.”

Both Rasgon and Nasca agree that more testing is needed to conclusively determine whether there is a link. But these findings are certainly promising. Even better is the fact that acetyl-L-carnitine nutritional supplements are widely available at drugstores and retailers throughout the country. Though the researchers caution anyone going out and buying the product to instantly curb their symptoms, they do believe it could be a viable tool in the fight against depression (pending further tests).

We are always fascinated with the progress that science is making when it comes to overcoming emotional issues. Depression is a very real condition that millions of Americans suffer from. Hopefully this can assist with the healing process, coupled with counseling and professional support.

‘YouTube’ Becomes Outlet For Mental Health Struggles

The modern age is certainly upon us and with that, are dozens of new outlets for people to share their feelings and find support. One interesting avenue is the video sharing social network, YouTube. With billions of users and clips on every topic imaginable, the site has become a haven for self-expression. And that includes those who deal with mental health struggles, such as anxiety and depression. In fact, some of the world’s most successful YouTubers have gained notoriety for their honest vlog confessionals.

The digital news site Engadget covered this trend recently, in an insightful article that profiled the public issues of YouTube’s top talent. Elle Mills, a popular vlogger with 1.4 million subscribers, recently opened up about the ongoing pressures in her life and how it has been affecting her mental state.

“My life just changed so fast,” she explained in the biographical video. “My anxiety and depression keeps getting worse and worse. This [online fame] is all I ever wanted, and why the f**k am I so freaking unhappy? It doesn’t make any sense. It’s so stupid. It is so stupid.”

Other major stars on the channel, such as Casey Neistat and PewDiePie, have also recorded long confessionals detailing their mental health struggles. Interestingly it’s these types of clips that have  proven to be their most viral, reaching millions upon millions of viewers across the globe.

The article goes on to detail how success on a social network like YouTube can actually contribute to some of these issues. As people become more popular, the pressure often increases to deliver quick, compelling clips (all without a regular salaried paycheck). There are also concerns when it comes to video comments. We are all aware of “internet trolls.” And the more popular someone becomes online, the more likely they are to be the subject of hateful language. This, in turn, can lead to depression and serious self-esteem issues.

YouTube the company (which happens to be part of Google) is aware of the problem and is starting to take proactive steps to help users detailing their struggles online. Efforts are currently underway to provide video creators with mental health services and at company-funded events like VidCon, there will now be on site support groups.

While we fully support people turning to the web as a therapeutic support system, we also encourage them to explore in-person treatment options. If you or someone you are close to is expressing dark feelings online, now is the time to seek out help.

A Checklist For Silencing Shame

Shame and guilt are common feelings that we all experience. But there comes a point when, for many, they can become debilitating and lead into issues like addiction, violence, depression or self-harm. There are ways to overcome them, however, with professional support and some day-to-day exercises to remove the negativity.

Psychology Today writer Dr. David Sack emphasized three points, in particular, to help those dealing with consistent shameful emotions…

Point #1: Don’t Hide Your Feelings

The sad truth is, many people suffer in silence when it comes to shame. As Dr. Sack’s article illustrates, there is a constant feeling of unworthiness and a fear that discussing these emotions will expose the “bad person” you are. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, talking openly about can be a major release, as Dr. Brene Brown explained in the article. “The less we talk about shame, the more power it has over our lives,” she explained. “If we cultivate enough awareness about shame to name it and speak to it, we’ve basically cut it off at the knees.”

Point #2: Separate Actions From Emotions

Dr. Sack goes on to explain how these shameful feelings are often tied to actions in our lives. If someone makes a mistake, it can lead to an overwhelming feeling of guilt and self-criticism. For people suffering, the common go-to thought is “I’m an idiot” or “this is the last time I’ll try something like that.” It is important to separate your sense of self-worth from any action you take. And that goes for victories too. Treat both praise and condemnation with a sense of perspective and you won’t have to deal with a rollercoaster of emotions.

Point #3: Recognize Your Triggers

We all have certain sensitivities and if something we feel vulnerable about is triggered, it can quickly spiral into guilt and shame. Sometimes it could be about the way you parent, other times it may have to do with your career earnings. If there’s a particularly touchy subject in your life, it is important that you work on it. And it is also important that you recognize it and (if possible) avoid situations where it may come into question. As Dr. Sack writes, “Rather than give in to these triggers, seek to ban them from your life. Embrace who you are rather than struggling to fulfill an outside notion of who you should be.“

Above all, know that there is always support out there for these types of emotions. If it is something consistent that you are struggling with, please reach out and get help.

It’s Never Too Early To Discuss Mental Health

We know that mental health can be an uncomfortable subject, especially when it comes to pre-teens and young people. But, as many states are beginning to realize, starting the conversation early can be extremely beneficial. Just this past month, in fact, New York and Virginia have required mental health education at the elementary school level.

The key here is early intervention and letting students know that they are not alone if they’re struggling. One of the reasons that state legislators have gotten involved is because of the growing number of suicides happening among Americans aged 15 to 24. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there has been a 30 percent increase in young people who take their own life over the past 18 years.

Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds made this a personal mission for his state, following the suicide death of his 24-year-old son Austin in 2013. He believes (along with many other mental health advocates) that early intervention is the key to lowering this statistic.

“The system failed my son” Deeds explained on TheFix.com. “[Mental health] is an integral part of our overall health and should be an integral part of health education in schools. [We need to] tear down the stigma and provide some equality with those that struggle with mental health.”

New York legislators feel just as passionate about the issue. The research they put forth for their mandate showed that 90 percent of young people who commit suicide suffer from depression or some other diagnosable and treatable mental illness at the time of their death.

The two key words there are “diagnosable” and “treatable.” Both of those play into the idea of adding mental health education to the elementary classrooms. The simple math is; if you bring the conversations to the forefront, that will help you diagnose and treat young people who are suffering.

Interestingly enough, many students themselves are helping to advocate for these changes. Over in Virginia, it was the high schoolers of Albemarle County who helped present the proposal to get the initiative passed. Many testified that they, themselves, had seen fellow classmates suffer and die because of mental illness.

This is something we at inneractions firmly believe in as well. Truth be told, half of lifetime mental health issues develop before the age of 14. So we advise any parent or young person to open up the dialogue and not let these problems go untreated.

Depression Becoming More Common At Work

Truth be told, most people don’t enjoy going to work Monday through Friday. But if the daily grind is causing you real depression, then that is a reason to be concerned. According to a new article on the business site Inc.com; unhappiness on the job is becoming much more common, even leading to issues like suicide and addiction. We thought they did a great job of outlining some of these new concerns and wanted to share a few points below.

One interesting phenomenon to come out of the modern working world is the concept of telecommuting. Just two decades ago, the idea of doing a 9 to 5 from home was much more rare. But now (thanks to the internet), millions of Americans conduct business from their personal laptops. And while that idea certainly sounds exciting, it is also creating more isolation and loneliness. Believe it or not, losing that daily human interaction can create real feelings of depression and leads many people into deep despair.

Former Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy discussed the topic at length with Inc and felt there were real causes for concern.

“New models of working — such as telecommuting and some on-demand ‘gig economy’ contracting arrangements — have created flexibility but often reduce the opportunities for in-person interaction and relationships,” he explained. “And even working at an office doesn’t guarantee meaningful connections: People sit in an office full of coworkers, even in open-plan workspaces, but everyone is staring at a computer or attending task-oriented meetings where opportunities to connect on a human level are scarce.”

The gig economy, as he mentioned above, is also a modern employment component that impacts emotional levels. Rather than having the stability of a corporate job, many Americans are forced to work odd hours, take lower wages and continuously “hustle” to get work. That not only adds a lot of stress to a person’s life, it also creates depression if basic needs are not being met.

And honestly, people in Corporate America are facing these issues too. Inc’s research showed that many office workers are despondent over controlling management and limited choices in their work environment. As the article writer put it, “losing control of one’s destiny is a hit to our basic fundamental needs and could have serious emotional repercussions.”

We certainly understand the stressors that modern life and the workplace can have. Just know that these feelings are shared and there are always to overcome them. If you feel depression or anxiety creeping into your daily life, please reach out and get the help you deserve.

  If you’ve been following our blogs, then you may recall our piece a few weeks back about films that are offering inspiration for addiction survivors. Well for every ying there is a yang, and this week there are a handful of movies being called out for just the opposite. Over on Netflix, two films in particular have been singled out for being insensitive about the topic of mental illness.   Interestingly, the two movies in question happen to be the most popular offerings on the platform right now. Bird Box stars Oscar winner Sandra Bullock and received roughly 45 million views over this holiday month. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (the other film in question) has been dominating social media as well, but both cover very dark subject matter.   Bird Box has been criticized for “demonizing” mental illness. The plot concerns invisible monsters who encourage victims to take their own lives. That alone is a very touchy subject and it has been said that the way these suicides are handled leave a lot to be desired. What’s worse though, is that people suffering from mental illness become the villains in this movie and actually contribute to the killings.   The website Popbuzz did an admirable job of summarizing the Twitter backlash (posted below).       Black Mirror isn’t faring much better with fans. The website The Mighty focused on that film, saying the plot features insensitive call outs to psychosis, delusions, paranoia and trauma (not to mention lots of blood and gore).   Though the Black Mirror backlash isn’t quite as intense as the Sandra Bullock movie, site writer Elizabeth Cassidy did mention that a warning should be issued before viewers click “Play.” And to her point…Despite the fact that these may be “trendy” films of the moment, you have every right to turn them away and encourage others to do the same.   “It’s OK to skip Bandersnatch if you’re sensitive to these topics,” Cassidy wrote. “Your health and safety are more important than the latest trendy show or movie. If you want to watch the movie but are concerned it might be too much, try watching it with someone you trust.”  
  If you’ve been following our blogs, then you may recall our piece a few weeks back about films that are offering inspiration for addiction survivors. Well for every ying there is a yang, and this week there are a handful of movies being called out for just the opposite. Over on Netflix, two films in particular have been singled out for being insensitive about the topic of mental illness.   Interestingly, the two movies in question happen to be the most popular offerings on the platform right now. Bird Box stars Oscar winner Sandra Bullock and received roughly 45 million views over this holiday month. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (the other film in question) has been dominating social media as well, but both cover very dark subject matter.   Bird Box has been criticized for “demonizing” mental illness. The plot concerns invisible monsters who encourage victims to take their own lives. That alone is a very touchy subject and it has been said that the way these suicides are handled leave a lot to be desired. What’s worse though, is that people suffering from mental illness become the villains in this movie and actually contribute to the killings.   The website Popbuzz did an admirable job of summarizing the Twitter backlash (posted below).       Black Mirror isn’t faring much better with fans. The website The Mighty focused on that film, saying the plot features insensitive call outs to psychosis, delusions, paranoia and trauma (not to mention lots of blood and gore).   Though the Black Mirror backlash isn’t quite as intense as the Sandra Bullock movie, site writer Elizabeth Cassidy did mention that a warning should be issued before viewers click “Play.” And to her point…Despite the fact that these may be “trendy” films of the moment, you have every right to turn them away and encourage others to do the same.   “It’s OK to skip Bandersnatch if you’re sensitive to these topics,” Cassidy wrote. “Your health and safety are more important than the latest trendy show or movie. If you want to watch the movie but are concerned it might be too much, try watching it with someone you trust.”  

Online Dating May Impact Mental Health

In today’s day and age, online dating has become the norm. And why shouldn’t it be? Finding new ways to find love and support is certainly something society should welcome. But it should be noted that certain negative trends have been associated with digital dating too, particularly when it comes to mental health and self-esteem.

Let’s face it, dating in itself can be difficult for one’s ego. There is always that fear of rejection, the potential love games that come into play and the anxieties of trying impress a new mate. But could romance sites and apps be making those experiences even worse? That is what a new study provided by The American Psychological Association is saying.

Using 2016 info that polled 1,044 women and 273 men, researchers found that online daters can often experience anguish and low self worth. Certain specific data pointed to the popular app Tinder.

“We found that being actively involved with Tinder, regardless of the user’s gender, was associated with body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalization of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others, and reliance on media for information on appearance and attractiveness,” study co-author Jessica Strübel, PhD told the site. “Tinder users reported having lower levels of satisfaction with their faces and bodies and having lower levels of self-worth than the men and women who did not use Tinder.”

Women were the primary focus of the research, but the results most certainly carried over to men. Being rejected by a suitor online was also shown to lead to deep anguish. Plus, negative trolling comments and the general fast-paced denials that can happen in these scenarios makes the situation even worse. And let’s keep in mind that an app like Tinder is accessed by over 50 million active users.

The other noteworthy component to come out of the study was the link between dating apps and tech addiction. This too can have a serious impact on mental health; leading to isolation, lost work and problems on the homefront. CNN Health went on to add a stat that claimed that 15% of the singles on Match.com admitted to being dependent on their devices.

And this type of behavior can have serious repercussions. “People who self-described as having really addictive-style behaviors toward the Internet and cellphones scored much higher on depression and anxiety scales,” psychology professor Alejandro Lleras told CNN.

These are all important factors to keep in mind, especially if you find yourself continually drawn to web devices. If any of these symptoms sound or feel familiar to you, reach out and let us know how we can help.

Celebrity Suicides Raise Depression Alarms

There is no denying that last week was devastating for fans of celebrity pop culture. Fashion icon Kate Spade and culinary icon Anthony Bourdain both took their own lives within a matter of days from each other. Not surprisingly, that has brought the topic of suicide back to the forefront…and rightfully so.   Though it’s not highly publicized, 123 people kill themselves every day in this country. When looked upon with a broader lens, that equates the 10th leading cause of death among Americans (and tragically, the second highest killer among teens). Obviously it’s a topic worth discussing. But why does it take celebrity tragedies to make us want to re-examine it?  

“Celebrity deaths like these really highlight the fact that suicide affects everyone, rich and poor, famous, not famous, young old,” said Dr. Cathrine Frank, Henry Ford Health System’s chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services. “It affects a wide range of people. It’s a major public health problem and it is really no different than cancer or other illnesses that we know affect a wide range of people.”

Even worse, high profile deaths like these often lead to copycats across the country. In Utah, for example, suicide prevention programs have seen a drastic jump in the number of calls to their hotlines following the news of Spade and Bourdain. And, according to stats from USA Today affiliate The Detroit Free Press, these numbers are on the rise nationally too.

Their chart below (which uses data from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) illustrates a steady increase in U.S. suicides since 2006.

Screen Shot 2018-06-11 at 9.19.51 PM

Several prominent politicians have spoken out as well, following the high profile news. New York Senator Chuck Schumer made the press rounds late last week, calling for more federal funding for suicide prevention programs. Arthur Evans Jr., head of the American Psychological Association, also spoke to news outlets, saying that the public needs to be educated about the symptoms of depression and must work to reduce stigmas.

 “If we have lots of treatments and people don’t access them because they are ashamed or they don’t know how to get them, those treatments won’t matter,” Evans explained to The Detroit Free Press. “For family members, friends, those in people’s lives, it’s important that they recognize when a family member, friend or colleague is having problems and that they help them get connected to resources.”

Of course, our stance at inneractions, is exactly the same, as we have spent years helping people overcome depression and suicidal thoughts. Step one involves identifying the warning signs and making sure that you or a loved one isn’t overcome with feelings of hopelessness or despair. If there is any question whatsoever about this, please reach out and get in touch with someone who can help.