World Day to Combat Depression

The World Day to Combat Depression is commemorated on January 13 with the aim of raising awareness of this mental health-related pathology that affects approximately 280 million people worldwide. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease (World Health Organization, 2021).

The symptoms are diverse and often go unnoticed, which prevents a clear and timely diagnosis, leading the person to suffer from this symptomatology for a prolonged period of time with the consequent consequences on their health.

The most common characteristics of depressive symptoms are: permanent sadness, lack of motivation, loss of interest or pleasure in daily life activities, isolation, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite or weight, lack of concentration and feeling of tiredness, feeling of excessive guilt, lack of hope for the future, thoughts of death or suicide.

In the face of symptoms such as those mentioned above, it is important to seek information and psychological and medical help.