Economists still cannot agree on what caused the Great Depression. Most however have agreed that it was a combination of events and decisions that came into play that caused the Great Depression.

It has been suggested that people who tend to get depressed may have inherited a subtle chemical abnormality in their brain. This might make them more sensitive or susceptible to one or more of the life events mentioned above.

Symptoms:

&bull Persistent sad, anxious or empty feelings

&bull Feeling constantly pessimistic

&bull Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

&bull Loss of interest in hobbies or activities

&bull Tiredness and loss of energy

&bull Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

Causes

Traumatic Factors

oThe loss of a loved one or death of a parent during childhood increases the chance of a person developing depression in later life.

oBeing abused, neglected or abandoned during adolescence.

oTraumatic experiences, such as moving away, divorce from a partner, losing a job and a family or friend break up.

Trigger Factors

oUnemployment

oLoss of a parent, sibling or partner

oAbsence of someone to talk to and confide in

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression is a type of depression that a mother experiences immediately after childbirth. It is more serious and lasts longer than 'baby blues'.

Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 10 percent of childbearing women.

The symptoms of postpartum depression include:

&bullFeeling sad or down often

&bullFrequent crying or tearfulness

&bullFeeling restless, irritable or anxious

&bullLoss of interest or pleasure in life

&bullLoss of appetite

&bullLess energy and motivation to do things

&bull Depressed mood-tearfulness, hopelessness, and feeling empty inside, with or without severe anxiety.

&bull Loss of pleasure in either all or almost all of your daily activities.

Causes

The rapid hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy and delivery may trigger depression. After childbirth, women experience a big drop in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. Thyroid levels can also drop, which leads to fatigue and depression. These hormone dips-along with the changes in blood pressure, immune system functioning, and metabolism that new mothers experience-can all play a part in postpartum depression. It has been theorized that women who are more sensitive to these hormone imbalances develop postpartum depression.

How is postpartum depression treated?

Therapy, support networks and medicines such as antidepressants are used to treat postpartum depression. Psychotherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment and an acceptable choice for women who wish to avoid taking medications while breastfeeding.

&bull Antidepressant medicine, which effectively relieves symptoms of postpartum depression for most women. Since breast-feeding is also important for your baby, talk to your doctor and your baby's doctor about an antidepressant medicine you can use while breast-feeding. Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants are considered relatively safe for use while breast-feeding.

Treatment for Postpartum Depression can be as varied as the symptoms. Common approaches include:

&bullCreating a supportive environment for the mother

&bullSelf-Care

&bullSupport groups

&bullCounselling

&bullPsychotherapy

&bullMedication