The hallmarks of the illness are a depressed mood and loss of pleasure in activities that have been enjoyable. While anyone can suffer from depression, certain groups are at higher risk. These include women, the elderly, and those who have a parent with a major mental illness.
Depression has far-reaching consequences for the person suffering from it.
Family relationships can become strained when the depressed person might need his family most. Job and school performance can suffer, and high levels of absenteeism are common. This can lead to job loss and loss of insurance at a time when finances and access to medical care are especially important. Unfortunately, despite many gains in the past few years, a stigma is still attached to undergoing and even seeking treatment for a mental illness, and some people may avoid acknowledging their depression to avoid that stigma. Factors that can trigger an episode of major depression include severe life stresses, such as death of a loved one, divorce, serious financial difficulty, chronic illness, and chemical dependence, particularly on alcohol or cocaine.