For many, depression is commonly described as a mental illness that can include a low mood and frequent isolation.

While that can be common for those who suffer with depression, there are numerous symptoms that can make it difficult to identify in others. 

What is Depression?

According to Jose Eduardo Rondon Bernard, Depression can be defined as "a disease with decayed mood as its main symptomatology. There are also painful feelings, bad humor, anguish and panic attacks, performance decay of various psychic and cognitive functions, tendency to isolation, demotivation, apathy, abulia, difficulty to enjoy, hopelessness, motor inhibition, hypotonia and negative thoughts, including possible delusions in cases of serious severity" (Bernard, 2017).

How Depression Impacts Learning

In a study conducted in Iran, there was a link between academic achievement and depression. During the study a group of students were given two test, one to measure anxiety and one to meausre depression. The findings were sorted between age, gender, academic achievement, and the area they resided in.

"Anxiety and depression were found to have an impact on academic achievement among teenagers. It decreased academic achievement. It could also decrease motivation in ability attention, concentration and leads to academic failure. These data have provided evidence of a relationship between anxiety, depression, and academic achievement among high school adolescents in response; it is proposed that selective preventive activities be introduced at high schools for students with academic problems. Mental health can be developed in school settings with the aid of support strategies such as counseling, teach life skill programs, and psychotherapy" (Abdollahi  et al, 2019, 10-11). 

Application: 

Review Questions:

1. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of depression

a. Thoughts of Death

b. Feelings of Hopelessness

c. Paranoia and Hallucinations 

d. Change in Sleeping Patterns

2. Maria loves to cook, but for the last four weeks, she hasn't felt joy for cooking. Which symptom best describes what Maria may be experiencing?

a. Change in Appetite

b. Lack of Interest in Activities

c. Difficulty Concentrating

d. Lack of Energy