The current recession is taking a toll on the mental health of the ranks of unemployed and underemployed. The risk of severe depression is four times greater for those without a job than those who are working – according to a recent national survey conducted by Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Depression Is Real Coalition. And those people still lucky enough to be employed, but who were coerced into reduced hours or pay cuts, were twice as likely to have symptoms.

The findings were released during Mental Illness Awareness Week that recently took place on Oct. 4-10.

According to Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Unemployment today stands at almost 10 percent. Nationwide, we face a mental health crisis as well as an economic crisis.”

Approximately 15 million U.S. adults (5 percent to 8 percent of the adult population) are affected by major depression each year, and only 50% seek treatment, regardless of their economic or employment situation the survey found.

Aside from therapy and medication – crucial elements in one’s battle against serious doldrums, there are some natural lifestyle changes that can be quite effective.

“Having a routine gives you a sense of control over the day,” says Ian A. Cook, MD, director of the Depression Research Program at UCLA. “We know that helps, and we know that not having a sense of control makes people feel worse.”

– Exercise is proven to be a great mood-booster.

– A basic healthy eating plan will do wonders.

– Get a good night’s sleep.

– Set realistic goals daily and try to meet them.

– Incorporate some downtime for fun or relaxation into your schedule.

– Have a support network of family and friends and don’t distance yourself from them.

– Make sure you have some responsibilities that give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you active.

– Try a natural supplement such as fish oil, but only after checking with your doctor.

– Stay away from substance abuse.

– When you’re in a rut, go out of your way to try something new and different. Push yourself to go to a museum . . .Volunteer at a soup kitchen . . . Take a language class. . .

Here are some cognitive ways to fight automatic negative thinking:

– Use logic when you have exaggerated terrible thoughts about yourself.
“Try to impose some reason,” says Cook. “Inject some reality.” Is it really true that no one likes you? Is there real evidence for that? Sure, you might feel like the most stupid and hateful person on the planet, but really, what are the odds?”

– Clear your head of negativity by taking a break. Breathing exercises or a simple walk around the room can help.

by Adele Weber

You knew it, and were just waiting for science to catch up. Coffee is good for you. For your brain. For your health. Overall, it’s the elixir of good health.

Scandinavian researchers followed the health of coffee consumers from middle to old age. The subjects were divided into three groups: low coffee drinker (0-2 cups), moderate (3-5), and heavy (more than 5 cups per day). 21 years later, 1,500 participants were examined for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They found that “Moderate coffee drinkers had a 65%-70% decreased risk of dementia and a 62%-64% decreased risk of Alzheimer’s compared with low coffee drinkers.” Low coffee drinkers also scored higher for depression. Coffee drinking has also been associated with lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.

What is it about coffee that has such a salubrious effect on the health? Caffeine? Not quite. Tea, also a highly caffeinated beverage, didn’t produce a similar pattern of mental health in its drinkers. Perhaps it’s something else in the coffee that does it. Whatever it is, you now have a better reason to hang out at the coffee machine at work.

There’s a link between the mind and the body. If you think you’re ill, you can make yourself ill, and if you think you’re well, it can help you recover. All of this is part of the well-documented though poorly understood placebo effect.
But some mind-body connections are more physical. And it is both documented and understood how depression, stress, and anger can lead to high cholesterol and diabetes.
The most obvious connection is the affect it has on behavior. When people are stressed, they eat more, particularly unhealthy foods; smoke more; and exercise less. The result is lethargy and poor health which can lead to hypertension and diabetes.
But there’s also a hormonal effect. Negative emotions increase the circulation of fight-or-flight hormones. In the short term, these hormones increase our cognition and performance. But in the long-term, they begin to damage the system, reduce happy hormones, and damage blood vessels. The results aren’t pretty.
What to do if you’re under stress? Relax. Try a massage or day spa, or exercise, even if you don’t feel like it. Exercise is great for both the mind and body. If necessary, seek therapy or medical intervention. In the long run, it can prevent physical deterioration and poor health.