Similar to other illnesses, such as heart problems, asthma, or diabetes, depression can become severe and disabling. Depression tends to occur in families. If someone is depressed, it is at least twice as likely that a close relative has had or will have depression. Anyone, male or female, can get depressed. However, in the United States, women become depressed about twice as often as men.
Depression can strike a person at any age.
Even small children can become depressed if they experience a serious loss such as the death of a parent. Depression is quite common in adolescence and adulthood. Also, it is not unusual to find depression in the geriatric population where loss is so evident. Depression is very prevalent in our society. Today, more than 10 million Americans are being treated for depression.