Divorce and Depression
Divorce can be, and oftentimes is, an emotionally wrenching experience for one or both spouses. A common mental health issue associated with divorce is depression. There are some important key considerations to bear in mind when it comes to divorce and depression.
Depression and Decision Making
When a party to a divorce suffers from depression, the illness can have a direct and even devastating impact on that individual's ability to make sound decisions during marriage dissolution proceedings. Decision making renders divorce and depression a major issue. By definition, depression fogs a person's mind. A person afflicted with depression during a divorce should take steps to address the illness and must advise his or her attorney of the problem.
Even a person represented by capable legal counsel will be called upon to make decisions during divorce proceedings. Lawyers advise but they cannot decide for a client.
Professional Assistance for Divorce and Depression
A person with depression should seek appropriate assistance for a qualified mental health professional. In this day and age, there are therapists, psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists that focus their practices on working with and treating men and women involved in divorce cases who suffer from depression and other issues. A person needs to be as proactive as possible in seeking professional assistance in regard to depression.
Many people worry about the costs associated with professional mental health treatment. One resource that can be accessed in many localities is the community mental health center. These organizations usually offer an array of different types of services, usually on a sliding fee scale based on a person's income.
In addition, some judicial systems maintain resources to assist people in finding appropriate support and mental health assistance. Some courts have developed programs in conjunction with community mental health centers for people in divorce case.
Legal Assistance and Depression
At first blush, a person may wonder how retaining legal representation from a capable, experienced attorney has anything to do with depression. In fact, proper representation in a divorce case oftentimes plays a direct role on whether a person end up suffering from depression, and if so diagnosed, how severe the condition becomes.
The reality is that a person with proper representation typically ends up with reduced anxiety and less likely to experience a more pronounced case of depression. In addition, divorce lawyers typically can recommend resources to their clients who may face problems with depression during the course of a divorce case. A lawyer can explain resources and options during an initial, no-cost consultation with a client.
