F eelings of sadness and discouragement are normal emotional reactions to difficult situations. But when these feelings last more than a few weeks, it could be a sign of the mood disorder called depression.
Depression is one of the most common of all mental illnesses.
It can appear at any age, and one in five women and one in 10 men will experience depression sometime in their lives. Almost 90 percent of those who suffer from depression could be effectively treated, and those who are treated realize some benefit. But many go untreated, largely because they do not recognize the illness or notice the patterns, blaming the symptoms on flu, stress, lack of sleep or poor diet. If left untreated, depression could eventually lead to suicide. If people recognize the symptoms and patterns early and seek treatment, they can avoid much needless suffering.