UBC Mental Health Awareness Club

Depression in pregnant women can not only affect the mother, but the fetus as well. Some of the consequences that can occur as a result of depression during pregnancy include a failure to seek prenatal care, an improper diet, and an increased likelihood for using drugs, all of which have a negative effect on the growth and development of the fetus (1). It is more likely for a woman to experience depressive episodes during pregnancy if they have had a past depressive episode.

Women who have experienced depression in the past should consider talking to their physician about being screened for possible depression during their pregnancy so that appropriate measures can be taken towards treatment; for women who experience mild to moderate depression, cognitive behavioural therapy or psychotherapy can prove to be beneficial. However, if the depression is very severe and therapy will not suffice, antidepressants may be an option. There may be some stigma attached to whether or not a pregnant woman should be taking antidepressants, as there are many “perceived” dangers to the fetus, such as an increased susceptibility to cardiac defects (1), but the results of studies are often conflicting and inconclusive. Overall, there seems to be no definitive effects on taking antidepressants during pregnancy other than a slight increase in spontaneous abortions and premature births (2).

Depression that is left untreated during pregnancy not only affects the mother, but also the child even after it is born; it can lead to an increased probability of a miscarriage, and children of depressed mothers often have higher Cortisol levels, increased irritability, and fewer facial expressions than children without depressed mothers (1). These risk factors alone show that it is very important to address the issue of depression during pregnancy, for the health and well-being of the mother as well as the unborn child.

Sources:

(1) Stewart, D.E. 2011. Depression during Pregnancy. The New England Journal of Medicine,  365: 1605-1611. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1102730

<http://www.nejm.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp1102730#t=article>.

(2)

Lorenzo, L., Byers, B., and Einarson, A. Antidepressant use in pregnancy. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 10(6):883-889. doi: 10.1517/14740338.2011.583917

<http://informahealthcare.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/doi/pdf/10.1517/14740338.2011.583917>.

Study drugs like Adderall and Ritalin are becoming increasingly popular on campus. Chances are you know someone without a prescription who takes these regularly during exam season. In fact, studies show that between 5 to 35 percent of college students without ADHD have taken these stimulants.

But does it really help?

According to Professor Lisa Weyandt of University of Rhode Island Psychology, these stimulants may increase students’ ability to focus, but it won’t improve the quality of their work and raise their grades. In fact, they can cause students to fixate on only one aspect of the assignment or essay (have you ever obsessed over the font of your notes for hours?) and actually decrease the quality of their overall work.

Even more concerning is the fact that these drugs can cause side effects like tachycardia (increased heart rate), high blood pressure, decrease in appetite, possible psychological dependence, and difficult sleeping. People may take study drugs without knowing if they are at risk of heart problems, because they were not prescribed by a doctor.

Another major issue with study drugs is psychological dependence. In other words, students who consistently take these may begin to think they need them to study properly, and will think they are incapable of studying without them.

Taking these factors into consideration, it may not be worth spending money on study drugs. Students who believe they require these stimulants to study proficiently should at least determine whether their need warrants a prescription. Otherwise, the risks likely outweigh the benefits. Adjusting your studying environment, getting sufficient sleep, and using different study methods like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minute studying intervals with 5 minute breaks in between) are more reliable ways to improve focus while studying.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131001115440.htm

Pomodoro timer: pomodoro.me

With midterms in full swing, it can be hard to let yourself get a good night’s sleep; especially if you feel like you don’t deserve it because you haven’t done enough studying for the night. But a good night’s sleep can be just as important as studying itself. Our bodies run on a 24-hour schedule via our circadian clock, and ruining your sleep cycle by pulling all-nighters can negatively affect you. If you find that you are having trouble falling asleep, here are some suggestions that you can try:

• “Power down”  before you sleep, so no scrolling through Instagram on your phone and no playing Candy Crush Saga on your iPad 60 minutes before you plan to sleep
• Avoid taking naps in the middle of your day, they seriously interfere with your nightly sleep
• Reduce the amount of fluids you drink a couple of hours before you plan to sleep – having to get up and go to the washroom just as you get comfy in bed is no fun. An exception to this is milk; it contains Tryptophan, which studies suggest helps people fall asleep

You can find some more tips here: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/sleep-hygiene?page=2

One’s view of themselves begins in infancy and evolves throughout their life. The beliefs that individuals hold about themselves affect their personal identity and their goals for the future. Within a school environment, students face continual pressure to achieve a certain standard in order to gain scholarships, to be accepted into programs and to make others or themselves proud. One’s self-esteem can either weigh a person down or it can act as a protective barrier against negative events.
The outcomes for having low self-esteem can be very serious. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), negative self-views are a key component for diagnosing a range of mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, manic and hypomanic episodes, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and personality disorders. It has been most closely associated with depression. In one study, individuals with low self-esteem were more likely to associate negative events as stable and relating to personal attributions, while individuals with higher self-esteem were more likely to view negative events as being unstable and related to external events (Campbell et al., 1991). The role of stress also plays a part in one’s risk for depression. When high levels of stress interact with low self-esteem, there is a heightened risk of depression, while low self-esteem alone did not contribute to the correlation.
On the contrary, having higher self-esteem can act as a buffer against stress and negative events. Research has shown that having a more exaggerated sense of self-worth can lead to better mental health outcomes. When faced with stress, higher self-esteem can lessen the perceived threat and one is more likely to use healthy coping skills. It appears that higher self-esteem leads to more positive outcomes by ‘protecting internal balance.’
As many of you begin your midterms, feed your mind positive evaluations and surround yourself with supportive people. Sometimes we can quickly slip into negative self-talk but remember that your mental state will fair better if you prop yourself up.

Reference:

Hosman, C. M. H., Vries, N. K. d., Mann, M., & Schaalma, H. P. (2004). Self-esteem in a
broad-spectrum approach for mental health promotion. Health Education Research, 19(4), 357-372. doi:10.1093/her/cyg041