Depression is an idiosyncratic issue that influences an individual’s behaviour – style, mood, attitude and other extreme cases as well. It entangles the quiet life of an individual and confounds it around the terrible atmosphere and leaves the victim paralyzed. There are innumerable pieces of evidence depicting that depression endeavours at self-mischief or self-destruction. It influences how you behave, feel, think and may ultimately lead to a variety of physical problems. It is a devastating, surreptitious assault, and a disastrous medical condition that impairs the potential and working of an otherwise normal human brain. The one who is haunted by such a situation feels like a lifelong prisoner and remains in a state of oblivion vis-a-vis the prevailing things. The one who gets trapped in this situation loses the bond and association with the family members, either in some cases transitory or at times permanently. It hurts more than a visible bodily wound. Depression is a common mental illness occurring worldwide that is more prevalent in women than men and is now considered a major contributor to the ‘World of diseases’ occurring in all sections of the society regardless of the status they have. It interrupts the person’s life and in its worst condition, it can lead to suicide. As per the reporting of World Health Organization (WHO) 800,000 people die every year and the cause is none other than suicide. It is regarded overall as the fourth leading cause of deaths in the age group 15-19 age group and sadly the second in the age group of 15-29 age group. With the soaring rate, it has become the fifteenth leading cause of death globally, which means that one soul is snatched from us every after 40 seconds. Depression downgrades the individual’s dignity in society and as has been seen prompts the family to curtail the movement of the victim. Depression is what makes the victim’s activities stagnant and pushes his/her body to live in a state of obsoleteness and despair.Researches made on the issue have revealed that there is not a single factor but rather multiple factors which push a person to such an abysmal state.The economic recession coupled by the prevailing Covid-19 situation has only added to the misery of people, creating a situation of hopelessness. During this unprecedented situation of Covid-19, it is reported that in the U.S. 4 in 10 adults are showing the symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorder. The research found it hard to outline the suicide cases under the age group of 5 but the age group 7-20 experience many such cases since they are by nature vulnerable to mental health problems especially during the teenage period (transition stage). They also experience depression because of a lack of courage to face failure.Back in Kashmir valley, the suicide cases feature in newspapers on alomost a daily basis now and as compared to previous years, the suicide cases seen a steep surge. Studies show that 79 per cent of the rural and urban population in the valley experience depression and the main cause of this is Unemployment, financial crisis, business loss etc. Surprisingly, about 24000 men and women attempted suicide in the last 17 years in the Kashmir valley alone, of them 3000 have ended in deaths. These cases were seen mostly under the age group of 16-25 age group. Abandoning ourselves from mysterious, fraught and filthy things may bless our life with long-lasting contentment and by this, we may achieve success in every sphere. Parents too can extinguish this depressive disorder from their children by providing a helping hand to their children in case of failure rather than aggravating the situation to such an extent that their ward may end up taking such an extreme step. They can motivate and develop positivity in their children by giving them time and love. However sadly the elderly members of the family seem to have given up with their younger members and make no or very less efforts to channelise the energy of budding members of the society. Parents possess a pivotal role in safeguarding their wards from these depressive disorders and ought to take responsibility, otherwise, they by their own eyes may see the most unwanted things happening at the hands of their children.
Biology of Depression
Amongst the factors of depression, the biological factor alters the functioning of what is called Neurons which communicate via chemicals known as neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, serotonin, Norepinephrine etc. Neurons are apart from each other by a space known as a synapse. When they interact, neurotransmitters get packaged in the vesicles of the presynaptic neuron. After crossing the space, key receptors take up these neurotransmitters, like serotonin receptors take up serotonin. Each neurotransmitter in an individual has its brain chemistry. Any imbalance in these chemicals in the brain can degrade the mental health of the individual. It indicates that a low level of neurotransmitters may initiate depression, but the question is “What causes this contraction”? It is a breakdown in the brain’s circuit which results in feelings of depression. Potential causes of chemical deduction revealed by research include a shortage in specific enzymes in the pathway, less receptive sites, and low production of specific hormones.
Neurotransmitter imbalance and aftermath
Norepinephrine Is concerned with the “fight or flight” response and other body movements with adrenaline.The downfall of this chemical messenger becomes the cause of anxiety, high blood pressure, loss of alertness, appetite, foggy brain, trouble in concentration and unmotivated thinking.
Serotonin
This chemical messenger is responsible for mood change and makes our body alert and gives messages when to sleep, eat and digest. Its shortage gives us a large picture of the development of symptoms of depression like emptiness, anxiety, feeling frustrated, worthless, loss of pleasure.
DopamineIt is often called a “feel-good chemical, which develops positive feelings, motivation and interest in various activities, places and people when it interacts amongst nerve cells. A low level of Dopamine affects our motivation and interest in activities we once loved the most and other symptoms include anger, petulance, belligerence, apathy towards family and friends, desire to remain alone and many more.
Depression eventually instigates one for self-harm. One of the biggest means to avoid it is that we have is to educate and aware people regarding suicide stigma through daily newspapers. Seemingly suicide cases in the vale of Kashmir have remained limited to just a mere news story, why not depth analysis of it is seen is itself a concern. To eradicate this stigma various social programs should also be generated to make people familiar with all that is related to depression and its consequences, otherwise, it seems that a ripple for human resource depredation is approaching, and the cause will be none other than a suicide explosion in the valley of Kashmir. May Almighty be saviour of us all!
– The Author is an M.Sc in Zoology from Kashmir University and can be reached at zoobilal26@gmail.com
