Offer help to people suffering depression.

Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Alice Duffy For The Register-Guard

Want to do something nice for your family? Thoughts of summer vacations or savings accounts come to mind. But one of the best things is to get treatment for depression in your family.

Since 20 percent of Americans experience depression some time in their lives, chances are good that someone in your family is depressed right now.

The biggest reason to treat depression is to prevent suicide and its lifelong legacy of pain for surviving family members. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people 15 to 24 years of age. Older family members also have high suicide rates. People 65 and older accounted for 18 percent of all suicide deaths, even though they comprise only 13 percent of the population.

Completed suicides have increased by 300 percent over the last 30 years. One recent study showed that only 7 percent of suicide victims are receiving mental health care at the time of their death.

Depression breeds depression. Rates of depression are higher for people with family members who are depressed, and it's not only due to genetics. One depressed family member can make a dark and gloomy atmosphere for others.

Think about coming home to a family member who is always depressed or angry. Multiply that by two or three family members who are depressed, and it's hard to escape the effects.

One large study showed that almost half of the close relatives of depressed individuals developed depression or other mood disorders. Rates were over eight times what would be expected in the general population. Adults ages 24 to 44 have the highest rates of depression. But their children are the fastest growing group.

Depression may go unrecognized in families because it has persisted for generations and may be well integrated into the family culture. Some have been depressed for so long that they take it for granted. But, like secondhand smoke, their depression is dangerous to others.

Depression may look different in different family members. Kids may exhibit fatigue, physical complaints, difficulty with schoolwork, apathy or a lack of motivation. Teens may sleep a lot, become socially isolated, or begin acting out in self-destructive ways. Men are more likely than others to turn to alcohol or drugs when depressed or throw themselves into their work, while women with depression more often experience eating disorders, guilt and anxiety.

Doctors may also miss the diagnosis of depression. One recent study found that almost 75 percent of older adults who died by suicide had visited a primary care physician within a month of their suicide.

Depression often occurs with other conditions, making it difficult to identify. Depression is a side-effect of many medications and also occurs along with anxiety, addictions, behavioral problems and eating disorders. Depression can be triggered by grief, trauma, chronic pain or illness. Grief or illness may pass, but the depression may linger for years.

A diagnosis of depression always includes feelings of sadness or emptiness and the loss of interest or pleasure in activities that once were enjoyed. Other symptoms may include decreased energy or restlessness, oversleeping or early waking, excessive crying, loss of appetite or overeating, feelings of hopelessness, guilt or worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide, difficulty concentrating or making decisions and physical problems that don't respond to treatment.

Depression may go away without treatment, but it is often a recurring condition - and each time it recurs, it makes it much more likely that it will recur again.

Depression can be treated with medications, short-term psychotherapy or both. Milder cases respond well to short-term therapy, while moderate to severe depression responds better to medications. Medications improve the mood enough to make it easier to gain skills from counseling.

A person with depression needs compassion and understanding from family members. This may not be a natural offering when a teenager is snarly or a spouse spends the entire weekend in front of the TV. You may need to help the person recognize that there is a problem by talking about their experience and your obser- vations.

The very nature of depression can interfere with a person's ability to get help. Depression saps energy and self-esteem and makes a person feel tired, worthless, helpless and hopeless. Helpers may have to insist on getting help, making appointments and going along on doctor and counselor visits. The good news is that most depression responds well to treatment. Your efforts to help may be rewarded with a happier, healthier family.

Alice Duffy is a licensed social worker in private practice and a member of the Consortium for Depression Resources.