Lara Zucker Offers Expert Tips on Managing Depression

Lara Zucker, CBH Care's IFSS program coordinator and president of NAMI Greater Bergen in Hackensack, was invited in May to discuss depression in Bergen Magazine. May is Mental Health Awareness Month with special emphasis paid to the stigma associated with common mental illness.

Zucker provided answers to important questions that examined topics such as: how to recognize the signs of depression in oneself or loved ones, where to find local resources that can help with mitigating the effects of depression, and when to seek professional help, among others. 

As the program coordinator for Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS), Zucker works to improve the functioning and quality of life for families living with mental illness. IFSS helps families develop critical knowledge, skills, and community support that can assist them by providing a variety of services that can be delivered in the family home, at the IFSS office, or at other sites throughout Bergen County.

Major Depressive Disorder, also known as clinical depression, affects about 17.3 million American adults, or about 7.1 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It’s more prevalent in women than in men. And adults with depressive disorder have a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease.

“With effective treatment, depression that is situational or more long-term can be treated and managed so that the individual can begin to feel better and return to the things they enjoy doing, and the people they enjoy being with,” said Zucker. 

According to Zucker in Bergen Magazine, signs to look for include: persistent sadness, anxious or “empty” mood; feelings of hopelessness or pessimism; feelings of irritability, frustration or restlessness; loss of interest or loss of pleasure in hobbies or activities; decreased energy; fatigue; difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions; intrusive thoughts or irrational fears; sleep disturbances; changes in appetite and weight; aches and pains; and thoughts of self-harm.

If you are suffering signs of depression or are concerned for a loved one who may be depressed, take action by calling 201.646.0333 and ask to be connected to Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS).