Vim & Vigor - Fall 2008 - North Denver - (Page 26)

pro optimal ap an North Vista sician with dicine phy aging me tween man .D., family parallels be id Tusek, M s Dav mfield, see up in Broo edical Gro rtension: M indype well and m ntrolling h ltra-fit, eat ion and co depress who are u on for high on runners e medicati me marath “So ls still requir ve ertension, eir stress le ts with hyp manage th ty of patien ri ‘five fully e vast majo nd to their ssure. For th if they atte blood pre xercise r difference ealthfully, e ake a majo water, eat h er, it can m howev of clean relax. drink plenty stent way to of health’— pillars find a consi s not just and p restfully ion include gularly, slee of depress orkre nt f experts w al treatme h a team o arly, optim “Simil proach wit mood.” a broad ap that affect ations, but ny factors medic ith the ma and deal w to identify ing ach This doesn’t mean that depression always, or even often, leads to suicide. In fact, 19 million Americans suffer from depression, while 500,000 of them make suicide attempts annually. However, Bert Pepper, M.D., psychiatrist and board member of Mental Health America, says there are warning signs. “Depressed people who are ordinarily social tend to withdraw when they are more depressed or suicidal. They can’t bear social contact,” Pepper says, adding that disrupted sleep, anxiousness, and more frequent drinking or smoking also signal deepening You’ll find private, online depression. assessment tools for depresIn addition to mension and other health contal illness, suicide may cerns at centura.org. Click be precipitated by a on the Health Assessments major physical illness, icon, then on the assessment history of trauma or tool of your choice. abuse, family history g go concerned about depression? of suicide, or loss of job, ﬁnances or relationships. Mental Health America says these symptoms may signal a need for help: • Statements such as “You’d be better off without me” or “Maybe I won’t be around” • Previous suicide attempts • Risk-taking behavior • Personality changes • Giving away prized possessions • Lack of interest in future plans • Expressions of hopelessness Pepper especially urges loved ones to watch for the latter two. “Hopelessness is a huge red ﬂag. If they can’t imagine things ever getting any better, that is a stronger indicator toward suicide risk than simply, ‘I feel sad,’ or ‘I feel lonely.’ ” Finally, a catastrophic event can cause depression or posttraumatic stress disorder. From famine to war to natural disaster, many of the events that Anderson Cooper has covered are studied by researchers who look for trends. “There is data that indicate in times of stress, vulnerable people will make suicide attempts,” Clayton says. 26 vim & vigor · fal l 2 008 http://centura.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2008 - North Denver

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2008 - North Denver Contents A Mission in Motion For Your Health Goal! Seeing Beyond Time Equals Muscle The Fiber Solution Prize Fighters On the Cover: Spreading the News I'm Glad I Had a... Tailor-Made Beyond the Bedside On Track Living the Good Life Little Kids, Big Decisions Zeroing In Right At Home Beating the Clock Community Connections Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2008 - North Denver

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