April is Mental Health Awareness Month

          According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Major Depressive Disorder is charachertized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities.

          There are times that you may feel sad, lonely, or hopeless for a few days. But major depression-clinical depression-is disabling. The symptoms cannot be due to direct effects of a substance(drug abuse, medication) or a medical condition(hypothyroidism, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, or cancers). Also it is not within two months of the loss of a loved one.

          Talk to your health care professional or counsellor if you feel sad.  Remember to take it to God in prayer and reach out to family members and friends.