Depression is a disease - temporary and curable

Yes, the real world is almost devoid of the notion that depression can be a disease. Most, including some doctors, tend to regard it as a “blip” in mood. Instead of prescribing tranquillisers or sleeping pills, mood stabilisers may be more appropriate. A misdiagnosis of depression can be more than unfortunate – it can be life-threatening.

Your correspondent Guy Baker gave a courageous description of his personal experience of the social stigma attached to depression. It is about time that we recognised that this illness is temporary and medically manageable. It should not handicap a sufferer’s profession or relationships with others. Socially, sufferers should be treated no differently from those with colds or flu. The sooner we recognise depression for what it is, the better! My observations are based on experience taking care of a sufferer.

Songdej Praditsmanont