The medical director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu, Dr Monday Igwe, identified other symptoms as changes in appetite (low or high), changes in sleep (poor or excessive), changes in weight (loss or gain), difficulty concentrating (what many patients report as memory lapses) and feelings of guilt or blaming self unnecessarily.
He said feelings of inferiority, worthlessness, hopelessness and pessimistic of view of self, the future and the society as well as recurrent thoughts of harming self and suicidal attempts are also symptoms of depression.
Quoting the World health organisation (WHO), Igwe said one million suicides occur annually, adding that 90 per cent of the cases are related to depressive disorder. “This means that ONE suicide death occur every 40 seconds worldwide. The age group at maximal risk is 15-45 years,” said Igwe.
