Many people know exactly why they are feeling depressed -it could be a physical illness, financial or relationship problems or difficulties at work. A loved one may have died, or there may be life changes to deal with such as a new baby or moving to a new area. Other people have no idea why they feel depressed. Scientists have found alterations in the brain's structure and the way it works when somebody is clinically depressed. This suggests there may have be a biological basis.
Depression runs in families to some extent.
If a parent has depression, it is more likely that their children will also be depressed at some point in their lives. It is not clear how much this is due to genetics or to do with their environment or upbringing. Depression can be caused by a number of other conditions, or may even be a side-effect of medication you are taking. It can be hard to seek help when you feel depressed, but deciding to do something about your depression is the most important step you can take. Depression can be treated effectively by medication or talking therapies or a combination of both.