EXCLUSIVE: World Health Day - Top psychiatrists tell us 10 clear symptoms to identify depression

A silent killer, depression, has been slithering its way into the lives of thousands of people worldwide. Over 90 percent of individuals who commit suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death, the most common one being untreated depression. 

Pinkvilla conversed with ace psychiatrist Dr. Shyam Bhat, who counselled Deepika Padukone out of her dark times, as well as senior psychiatrist Dr. Rajiv Anand, who has been practising for over 36 years. In case you are confused about whether or not you are suffering from just sadness or actual depression, the experts let us in on how one can identify clear symptoms of the latter...

1. Persistent low mood

2. Irritability

3. Tiredness without any exertion 

4. Sleeplessness/Insomnia/Too much sleep  

5. Loss of Appetite

6. Disinterest in work

7.  Decreased pleasure or interest in doing things

8. Pessimism and negativity towards things

9. Feelings of confusion, worthlessness and hopelessness

10. Recurring thoughts of suicide 

If your condition matches the above symptoms, it is best you talk to someone at the earliest or seek medical help. Keeping your emotions bottled up is probably the worst thing one can do. "Being aware of the symptoms can lead you to accepting that there is a problem that needs to be taken care of in the first place. Awareness about the problem might even push you to talk to someone about it, which is always a good start," says mental health professional, R. Alford. 

Have you ever felt that you could possibly be a victim of depression or know anyone who does? Let us know your story in the comments below...