While there is still a prejudice surrounding diseases like depression and anxiety, medical professionals like Dr. Duprey from Foothills Family Practice says they are in fact a real disease just like any other.

"They're absolutely a legitimate disease, there is neuro-chemistry in the brain that gets altered when someone gets clinically depressed." Dr. Duprey says "Our two mainstays of treatment for depression are really through pharmacological means as well as counseling and we know that it's most effective when it's treated with both of them."

So what is Clinical Depression? People can often feel tired or sad but that doesn't mean they're automatically diagnosed with depression.  Dr. Duprey says that you meet two major side effects or criteria.

"Clinical Depression is really when people are feeling down most of the time, or when they lose interest in doing the activities that they usually enjoy doing. If they're having either one of those symptoms they should really be talking to their family doctor."

Weather and the winter can also affect a person's mood as the level of vitamin D our bodies need is harder to get, and with the darker colder days it's usually not as easy to keep up with outdoor activities. These types of depression usually have one of the big side effects of clinical depression.  Dr. Duprey says the winter blues or S.A.D.S are usually a different diagnosis.

"If you're lacking one of the bigger symptoms then it actually isn't clinical depression." Dr. Duprey says, "It's more than likely going to be something like Dysthymia."

If you believe someone you know or you yourself might be struggling with depression you can do this simple test from the Calgary Counselling Society and set up an appointment with your family doctor.

If you or someone in your life is experiencing a mental health emergency there is a distress line that you can call at (403) 266-1605, or drop into the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre to speak to one of the health professionals. 

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email us at news@okotoksonline.com