Author Robyn McGee will discuss depression and African American women at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation "Black Health Empowerment Project" Saturday, June 10, 2006, Compton, California.
May 31, 2006 (Press Release) --
The U.S. Surgeon General estimates 19 million Americans suffer from clinical depression. Most women across ethnicities experience depression at some point in their lives, and African American and Hispanic women are twice as likely as men to be depressed.
According to the National Health Association, a person who is depressed may experience reduced appetite and weight loss, increased appetite and weight gain, or persistent physical problems, such as chronic pain or digestive disorders that do not respond to treatment.
Ongoing depression in minority women can result from any of the following: racism, unemployment, incarceration, relationships, careers, higher incidence of poverty, and reproductive events including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the post-partum, infertility, menopause, or the decision not to have children.
In addition, says Robyn McGee, author of "Hungry for More: A Keeping-it-Real Guide for Black Women on Weight and Body Image," regular indulgence in "so-called 'comfort foods'—chocolate, potato chips, our favorite caffeine drinks from Starbucks, and sugary sodas—as a way of dealing with boredom or anxiety can end up worsening the problem."
The good news is that 80 percent of the people suffering from depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy or medication or both.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is usually accompanied by one or more common symptoms:
• Constantly feeling sad, anxious or in an “empty” mood.
• Sleeping too much or too little, or waking up in the middle of the night or early morning.
• Loss of pleasure and interest in sex, restlessness, irritability.
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering, feeling fatigued.
• Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless, and imagining scenarios in which you are taking your own life.
If you or someone you know is suffering over an extended period of time from any symptoms mentioned above, seek help immediately.
For more information about HUNGRY FOR MORE and the Black Health Empowerment Project, contact (310)722-5058 or (877) 447-7103.
According to the National Health Association, a person who is depressed may experience reduced appetite and weight loss, increased appetite and weight gain, or persistent physical problems, such as chronic pain or digestive disorders that do not respond to treatment.
Ongoing depression in minority women can result from any of the following: racism, unemployment, incarceration, relationships, careers, higher incidence of poverty, and reproductive events including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the post-partum, infertility, menopause, or the decision not to have children.
In addition, says Robyn McGee, author of "Hungry for More: A Keeping-it-Real Guide for Black Women on Weight and Body Image," regular indulgence in "so-called 'comfort foods'—chocolate, potato chips, our favorite caffeine drinks from Starbucks, and sugary sodas—as a way of dealing with boredom or anxiety can end up worsening the problem."
The good news is that 80 percent of the people suffering from depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy or medication or both.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is usually accompanied by one or more common symptoms:
• Constantly feeling sad, anxious or in an “empty” mood.
• Sleeping too much or too little, or waking up in the middle of the night or early morning.
• Loss of pleasure and interest in sex, restlessness, irritability.
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering, feeling fatigued.
• Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless, and imagining scenarios in which you are taking your own life.
If you or someone you know is suffering over an extended period of time from any symptoms mentioned above, seek help immediately.
For more information about HUNGRY FOR MORE and the Black Health Empowerment Project, contact (310)722-5058 or (877) 447-7103.
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