This document discusses depression and suicide from several perspectives. It defines depression as a state of sadness resulting from life events like loss or failure. It outlines the diagnostic criteria for depression from the DSM-IV and ICD-10, including symptoms like depressed mood, loss of pleasure, changes in appetite and sleep, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death. The document also discusses potential causes of depression, like genetics, chemical imbalances, life stressors, and cognitive biases. It notes the prevalence of suicide worldwide and risk factors like gender, method, and country. Finally, it provides suicide statistics specifically for Bangladesh and identifies vulnerable groups like adolescents, the elderly, the poor, and those living in rural areas.

2. Depression could be defined as a state of
‘sadness’ resulting from various situations such
as, loss of a loved one, failure to achieve goals
or disappointments in life (Feldman S. R., et al,
1997).

3. DSM-IV characterized the major depressive
episode with –
a period of at least 2 weeks with depressed
mood
loss of interest or pleasure in almost all
activities
changes in appetite and sleep
feeling of worthlessness, guilt, suicidal plans

4. negative self concept, self blame,
worthlessness, guilt
complaints or evidence of difficulty in
concentrating, such as slowed thinking and
indecisiveness
recurrent thoughts of death and suicide

5. ICD-10, identified the typical depressive period
with –
loss of interest and enjoyment
 reduced self esteem and confidence, ideas
 acts of suicide or self harm

6.  Shouting, complaining, unexplained
irritability, or crying
 Being bored
 Lack of interest in playing with friends
 Alcohol or substance abuse
 Social isolation, poor communication
 Fear of death

7.  Family history
 Abuse
 Trauma and stress
 Death or a loss
 Pessimistic personality
 Major events
 Physical conditions
 Social Isolation and other personal issues
 Lack of exposure to sunlight
 Hormones
 Other psychological disorders
 Alcohol consumption and ssubstance abuse

8.  Cognitive--- Aaron Beck (1967, 1987).
Thinking is biased towards negative
interpretations
 Negative triad--- negative schemas or
beliefs triggered by negative life events---
cognitive biases--- depression

9. Learned helplessness
Uncontrollable aversive events--- sense of
helplessness--- depression
Hopelessness
Aversive events--- attribution to global and
stable factors--- sense of hopelessness---
depression

10. Genetic--- those with a family history of depression
have slightly higher chances of becoming depressed
at some stage in their lives
Studies of twins raised separately have shown that if
one twin develops the disorder, the other has a 40 to
50 per cent chance of also being affected
Hormonal or chemical imbalances in the brain may
cause depression.

11. Postnatal depression (PND) has been classified
as the fifth sub-type of major depressive
disorder in the DSM-IV. The features and
diagnostic criteria for postnatal depression are
similar to other depressive disorders
The key features of postnatal depression are
the sleep deprivation, sad mood and suicidal
thought

12.  DSM-IV stated that the features of onset of
postnatal depression usually occurs within 4
weeks after childbirth as the current major
depressive disorders
 Some researchers argued that it could be
anytime during the first 1 year of childbirth
 The key feature of postnatal depression is
that in over 50% cases, the women usually
recover within a period of 3 to 6 months

13. A 2006 report by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) states that nearly a
million people take their own lives every year,
more than those murdered or killed in war.
There are an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal
attempted suicides every year worldwide.

14.  Almost 60,000 people commit suicide in
Russia every year, approximately 30,000
people die by suicide each year in the
United States; over 30,000 kill themselves
in Japan. 250,000 and 300,000 suicides
every year in China.
 Women are more prone to attempt suicide
 Women tend to use less violent means
 75 per cent of suicides in the UK are by
males

15. In Bangladesh, the suicide rate was 7.3per 100,000 per
year and the highest rate was found in the age group of
60+ years.
Adolescent suicide rate in rural areas was 20.1 per
100,000. The rate was 17.7 and 22.7 among males and
females respectively
 Poisoning was found as the most frequent method of
suicide
The majority of the suicide victims were found to be very
poor and illiterate.
Age, place of residence, economic status and literacy were
the major associating factors related to suicide.
Adolescents, elderly and those residing in rural regions
were the most vulnerable groups