Health & Lifestyle

Photo by Daniel Reche on Pixabay

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Depression, like most mental illnesses, lies on a spectrum,” says Kirk Chung, M.D., medical director of Kettering Adventist HealthCare’s Behavioral Medicine Center in Dayton, Ohio. “Everyone feels down from time to time. Depression, as an illness, is defined by the intensity of its symptoms and duration.”

He adds, major depression is diagnosed by a person suffering with at least five of the following symptoms for a two-week period or longer:

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Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Marissa Leslie, M.D., medical director of Adventist HealthCare’s Behavioral Health division in Gaithersburg, Md., says depression should be viewed more like a very severe flu, a serious illness not dependent on faith.

We don’t tell people with the flu to just pray. We tell them to sleep and drink plenty of water. And we ask how we can help.”

In addition to the powerful tool of prayer, here are a few tangible things she suggests to help loved ones dealing with depression:

Occupational Therapist Diane Messer helps a patient with strengthening exercises during a visit to his home.

Story by Marisa Lavine

Adventist HealthCare’s Home Health division has once again been recognized as one of the top performing home health agencies in the nation for quality care.

The Home Health division has been named a Top Agency of 2017 HomeCare Elite®. This is the seventh year in a row that Adventist Home Health, part of Adventist HealthCare’s Home Care Services, has received this award, which is presented to the top 25 percent of agencies in the United States.