Depression Leading Cause Of Mental Illness : Expert

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2018 ) :Depression is one of the most leading causes of mental illness which mental health expert warn, if left unidentified, can lead to serious mental as well as physical issues.

loneliness, severe mental stress, lack of motivation, boredom, loss of appetite and excessive sleep are a few signs that can indicate if a person is in a state of depression. If left undiagnosed and without any support or intervention from family, a person suffering from depression can end up addicted to substance abuse and other opiates.

"The brain of a depressed person has certain chemical changes, if the intensity increases without any intervention of medical experts, it can lead to various severe mental health problems," warns Nazish Yousuf.

A consultant psychiatrist Dr. Hamid Rashid Khawaja, talking to private news channel, explains that depression is becoming very common among children. "Thirty seven percent children have been diagnosed with severe kind of depression.

Among these 37%, 17 to 18 percent children suffer from suicidal thoughts." Lack of attention from parents and family is considered as one of the main causes of depression among young people. Concerned psychologists and psychiatrists suggest that government needs to step up and initiate programmes that can help curb the issue of depression- a silent killer.