The American Academy of Family Physicians report on Women and Depression concludes that women are twice as likely to suffer clinical depression than men!

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 19 million people in the United States -- 1 in 10 adults -- experience depression each year. Of those who experience depression, women are twice as likely as men to experience depression.

Mental health problems affect women and men differently — some disorders are more common in women, and some express themselves with different symptoms. Scientists are only now beginning to tease apart the contributions of various biological and psychosocial factors to mental health and mental illness in both women and men. In addition, researchers are currently studying the special problems of treatment for serious mental illness during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Are the symptoms of depression different in women?

Doctors continue to learn about how women are affected by depression, but there are some common symptoms. If you're depressed, you may have some of these symptoms nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer:

• Feeling sad or crying a lot
• Losing interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy (including sex)
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
• Thinking about death or suicide
• Sleeping too much, or not being able to go to sleep or stay asleep
• Losing your appetite and losing weight (or eating too much and gaining weight)
• Feeling very tired or slowed down
• Having trouble paying attention and making decisions
• Having aches and pains that don't get better with treatment

What causes depression?

Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with one another. Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce or moving (such as leaving home to go to college), may lead to depression. Taking certain medicines, abusing drugs or alcohol, or having other illnesses can also cause depression.

Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are more likely to become depressed. Depression is more common a week before a woman's period and in the weeks after a woman gives birth (this is called postpartum depression). In some women, taking birth control pills may cause symptoms of depression.

How is depression treated?

Depression can be treated with counseling, medicine or both. It's also important to take good care of yourself, to exercise regularly and to eat healthy foods. See the list of dos and don'ts later in this handout. Counseling alone may help if the depression isn't severe.

Antidepressant medicines are very effective in treating depression. There are many different kinds of antidepressants. Your doctor will decide which one is right for you. Medicine alone or medicine with counseling can help most women who have depression.

Some dos and don'ts when you're depressed:

• Don't isolate yourself. Stay in touch with your loved ones, family and friends.

• Don't make major life decisions (for example, about separation or divorce).

• Don't blame yourself for your depression - You didn't cause it.

• Don't be discouraged about not feeling well right away.

• Don't give up.

• Do exercise every day to make yourself feel better and to get more energy.

• Do eat balanced meals and healthy food, and get enough sleep.

• Do set small goals for yourself, because you may have less energy.

• Do encourage yourself.

• Do get as much information as you can about depression and its treatment.

• Do call your doctor or the local suicide crisis center right away if you start thinking about suicide.

Are antidepressants safe for women with depression?

If you're planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about your medicines before you try to get pregnant. If you accidentally get pregnant while you're taking an antidepressant, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor will know if your medicine is safe to take.

Almost all medicines for depression can pass into your breast milk. If you are planning to breast feed or you currently breast feed, talk to your doctor about your medicine.

In most cases, it's OK to take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (also called HRT) at the same time as depression medicines. Taking hormones may even help some depressed women feel better. However, if your birth control pills seem to be causing symptoms of depression, discuss this with your doctor. He or she may suggest you use another method to prevent pregnancy for several months in order to find out if your birth control pills are causing depression.

If you or someone you care about is suffering from depression, you should seek professional help.

Additionally, you can check out our Forums or Blog Site to see how others are dealing with similar issues.