Mental health problems are often linked to some kind of addiction, and drugs and alcohol only worsen (and in some cases even cause) depression.

Depression and drinking

Research suggests that alcohol changes the brain’s chemistry to increase the risk of depression, and increases anxiety and depression in those who already have a problem.

Drinking can lead to several mental health problems besides depression, such as dementia (memory loss), psychosis, hearing voices, addiction to the extent of getting withdrawal symptoms, self-harm and eventually suicide. Of the men who kill themselves, 40 per cent have long-term alcohol problems and 70 per cent have drunk alcohol directly before the suicide.
Depression usually decreases within a few weeks of stopping drinking.
Major depression is worsened by the quantity of alcohol consumed per session, especially for women, according to studies. "Depression is most strongly related to a pattern of binge drinking," said Kathryn Graham senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. "Those who usually drink less than two drinks per occasion and never drink as much as five drinks are less depressed.”

Graham added that clinical depression may encourage some women to drink large amounts of alcohol in hopes of numbing depressed feelings, with risks of alcohol abuse and dependence. “Therefore, clinicians treating women for depression really need to be concerned about women's use of alcohol, because of the risks that women may try to medicate their moods with alcohol," she said.

Binge drinking is anything over 8 units in a day for men, or 6 units for women. A unit is a small glass of wine or half a pint of beer. Even a couple of days of binge drinking may start to kill off brain cells, some research suggests.

Depression and Cannabis

There is mounting proof linking people with mental health problems, including depression and psychosis, to cannabis use. Habitual use of the drug doubles the risk of developing a psychotic episode or long-term schizophrenia.

Research strongly suggests a clear relation between early cannabis use and later mental health problems in those with a genetic vulnerability (for example a family background of mental illness) – especially in teenagers, possibly because their brains are still developing.

Cannabis (also called grass, marijuana, pot, spliff, or weed) is an illegal Class C drug, in the same group as anabolic steroids and tranquillisers like valium, that is usually smoked as a ‘joint.’ Its psychologically active chemicals are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, producing a feeling of being high and building up in fatty tissues throughout the body, causing it to remain in the body for up to 56 days.

In one study, young women who used cannabis daily were five times more likely to develop depression and anxiety. Weekly use caused teenagers to be twice as likely.

The younger the person was when they began to smoke the drug, and the more frequently they used it, the more susceptible they were to depression, the study concluded.

Helping depressed people

• Be a good listener, even if you have to hear the same thing repeatedly, but try not to offer advice
• If the depression prompted by a recognisable problem, help the person talk about it or even find a solution
• Do not encourage them to drink
• Check that they are eating enough
• Let them know that they can get better – you may need to reiterate this often
• Encourage them to get medication or therapy. If you have doubts about their medication, discuss it with a doctor first
• If they hint at suicide, take it seriously and get help
• Just spending time chatting with them and doing everyday things will help

More on Depression:

Understanding Depression – The stats, signs and symptoms

Depression and Teens – Depressed people are getting younger and younger

The Causes of Depression – Causes, treatments and what to do if you’re depressed

Your Mental Health: When It’s Not Just Depression – Bipolar Disorder

Postnatal Depression - When it's more than just the baby blues