Risk Factors for Depression in WomenFriends and Family Day October 2013

Summary

1. Signs and symptoms of depression

2. Risk factors for depression in Women

3. What we can do about it

Why Women?• women are approximately twice as likely to

experience a depressive episode• one in eight women will develop depression at some

point in their lives• depression can occur at any time in a woman’s life,

but is most common between the ages of 25 and 44• the age of onset for depression is younger for girls

than for boys• women experience more frequent depressive

episodes over their lifetime

ABOUT A BOY MARCUS RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS

What is Depression ?

Symptoms of Depression

Cognitive Behaviour Physical Emotional

How women experience depressionMany women experience ‘atypical’ symptoms of depression:

Reactive mood which improves in response to positive events

Over eating and weight gain

Over sleeping

Excessive physical fatigue

Feelings of sensitivity to rejection from others

Women Specific Depressive Disorders Premenstrual Depressive Disorder (PMDD) Symptoms begins 10 to 14 days prior to menstruation and improve within the first few days after its start 1 in 10 women experience PMDD Post Partum Depression (PPD)

Depression that occurs within 1 month of giving birth 20% of women who give birth in Ontario receive a physician’s visit for depression within 1 year of giving birth Peri-Natal Depression Depression that occurs either in pregnancy and/or in the six to 12 weeks following delivery.Menopausal Depression Depression that occurs during the transition from pre-menopause to menopause.

Three Unkind Step Sisters

Biological Risk FactorsGeneticsHormonesPhysical illness

Psychological Risk FactorsThinking patterns

Social Risk FactorsTraumaSocial RolesOppression

Biological Risk Factors

• Genetics

• Hormones

• Physical Illness

Psychological Risk Factors

• Thinking patterns

Social Risk Factors

• Trauma

• Role overload

• Oppression

ABOUT A BOY (10/10) MOVIE CLIPYOU’RE SICK (2002)

What Helps?

What Helps?

Treatment MedicationPsychotherapy

Back to BasicsSleepActivityHealthy Eating

Women’s MH Program at The Royal

Peer Support• Joys and Challenges of

Mothering• WRAP• Healthy Living• Recovery from

Addictions

Clinical Services• Short term individual

psychotherapy • Interpersonal Process

Group• Working with Emotions• Psycho Education for

Trauma