Self-check: How do you and those around you view mental health? How was it viewed growing up?

More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness every year, with 15.5% of U.S. adults experiencing Major Depressive Disorder . Depression symptoms are common and can be debilitating, impacting day to day functioning at work, school, or at home.

Common symptoms include: 

• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
• Angry outbursts or irritability
• Loss of interest in normal activities (hobbies, sex, sports)
• Sleep changes, insomnia or sleeping too much
• Change in appetite – eating too much or too little (compared to your normal)
• Frequent or recurring thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide

Self-check: Do any of these feel familiar? What is that like for you?

Wait, what is suicidal ideation?

Suicidal ideation, or suicidal thoughts, are thoughts that are intrusive, recurring, or distracting around suicide and death. So what can these thoughts look like? There are two types: passive suicidal ideation and active suicidal ideation. 

Passive suicidal ideation:

I wish that I won’t wake up tomorrow.

Today was so difficult, I wouldn’t mind if life was over. 

*no current plan or intent to make these thoughts a reality

*does not = suicide or self-harm

Active suicidal ideation:

Persistent, specific thoughts of a plan to end one’s life including details

Warning signs can include giving away important things to others, writing a note, creating a specific plan with a means (a way to do it)

If you are reading these and have these thoughts, contact emergency services (911 or 988) for immediate help.

Self-check: Do any of these feel familiar? What is that like for you?

What causes depression?

A mixture of social, psychological, and biological factors (ex: adverse life events like unemployment, grief, trauma, and even genes inherited from your parents). Life comes with many difficult and straining challenges that can impact us deeply. What helps while waiting for an appointment? Try these: TIPP skills or relaxation skills  

You are not alone in the human experience, or in having these symptoms! Reach out for support!

References

 Mental Health By the Numbers. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/mental-health-by-the-numbers/

 Depression (major depressive disorder). (2026). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007

 Cleveland Clinic (2025). Suicidal Ideation (Suicidal Thoughts). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/suicidal-ideation

 Depressive disorder (depression). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression