Mental health professionals highlight signs of major depressive disorder
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Breaking the stigma, starting the conversation, and making it okay to ask for help. That’s the message behind World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2026.
One in eight people across the globe live with a mental health condition. While over a billion people have a mental illness, there are still many harmful stereotypes that frame mental illness as personal weakness or even dangerous.
"We assume that if we go talk to somebody or if we go talk to a counselor, that means there's something wrong with us," Hollie Smith, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for Harmony Counseling Services, said.
One of the most common mental illnesses is major depressive disorder, or depression. Which involves persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or a loss of interest in activities. Depression isn't exclusive to any one demographic
"Kids can experience depression. Adults. The geriatric," Smith said. "I think a lot of people assume that as we grow older, it's more normal to be depressed, which isn't true."
When you experience five or more of the following symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks, it is recommended you reach out to a provider for screening depression. These are the symptom criteria listed by John Hopkins Medicine:
- A persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you normally enjoy
- Significant changes in sleep or appetite/weight
- Fatigue or severe loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or hopelessness
- Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Restlessness, irritability, or slowed movements
- Recurrent thoughts of death or self-harm
"A depression screening can be an assessment," Smith explained. "We ask different questions to figure out what are the symptoms you're experiencing, what frequency they are, how often they're happening and for how long."
According to Mental Health America, Idaho ranks among the worst states in the nation for access to mental health care.
But as more mental health clinics open and online counseling becomes more widely available, new options are emerging to help Idahoans get the support they need.
"The best part of counseling is you can tell me all of your stuff," Smith said. "Give half of it to me. I can help carry it. And then you don't have to hang out with me afterwards. You can enjoy the people you love without having all of these things on your mind."
If you are interested in counseling services, there are plenty of resources around the community and online.
And to find more information on World Mental Health Day, here is the link to their official website.
