Kenya has about 7000 annual suicide deaths linked to depression and the number is on the rise. The following are the signs of a depressed person;
Change in mood
Depression is a mood disorder, so the first sign you notice is that someone is becoming sad and pathetic most of the time. Most of the day the person appears unhappy. Sometimes they will tear up without cause. They also withdraw from other people to spend time alone.
Loss of interest
People suffering from depression usually lose interest in previously loved activities. A mother who loved cooking may lose interest in doing it or a youth who loved basketball may stop caring about it. Generally, loss of interest in activities that were pleasurable to them.
Low self-esteem
They will start having negative feelings and view of themselves. They will say things like " I'm not good enough", or "I'm not beautiful". When you hear that a lot and you were not used to hearing that from them, that is a sign of depression.
Changes in eating habits
Once depression sets in, eating habits change. They will either eat too much, too little or not eat at all. There may be a marked change in body weight. They will lose or add five percent of their body weight.
Changes in sleeping patterns
They may either not be sleeping (insomnia)or they sleep too much (hypersomnia) because they believe they have no energy.
Self-destructive habits
Younger people especially may start mutilating their bodies. They may start cutting areas that are not dangerous such as palms of their hands. They may also start becoming overly sexually active, having unprotected sex and not even care about STIs. Someone who never drove while drunk can begin doing it and not care, which would be out of character for them were it not for the depression.