2016 Spring/Summer Highlights of Hope

Starting a New Conversation About Depression
More than 18 million Americans have depression, yet it
remains one of the most socially stigmatized conditions. It
can include a host of symptoms—difficulty concentrating,
feelings of guilt, disinterest in usual activities, sleep
problems, unhealthy appetite changes and thoughts of
helplessness—that make everyday life seem overwhelming.
In severe cases, depression can lead to suicide.
Last fall, Van Andel Institute addressed the topic of
depression during A Conversation About Depression – Hosted
by Carol Van Andel. The event was an opportunity for the
community to hear directly from experts like Van Andel
Research Institute Associate Professor Lena Brundin, M.D.,
Ph.D.; Eric Achtyes, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry
and director of the Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human
Medicine; and Bill Sanders, D.O., psychiatry residency
program director at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health
Services.
Brundin and her team study the role that inflammation—
the body’s primary response to infection and other triggers,
including autoimmune activity—plays in depression and
suicidality.
Through a collaborative study with Pine Rest, one of
Brundin’s research projects investigates the link between
depression and neuroinflammation during pregnancy and the
post-partum period. She and her colleagues are searching
for better ways to identify women at risk of developing
depression while also investigating new treatment options
for depression and suicidality during this critical period.
“It’s exciting
to think that
medications
currently used for
the treatment of
inflammation and
infection could
help people with
depression and
become part of
a psychiatrist’s
toolkit. Research
advances are
important, but
family and friends
also play a vital Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
role in helping
those with depression,” Brundin said.
“It’s often these people that can help identify depressive
symptoms while providing a network to help the person seek
help and recover from their symptoms. It was a wonderful
experience seeing so many people from the community
come together to support those with depression.”
For information on the Institute’s health advocacy events
visit vai.org.
GLOSSARY
Anti-inflammatory medication: Anti-inflammatory medications, which include aspirin and ibuprofen, reduce pain,
fevers and other inflammation responses in the body. They work by inhibiting the production of chemicals in the
body that cause inflammation.
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