Other Mood States Don't forget to return to the main page to see additional files linked from the bottom of the page. And do check for biblios, links, and multimedia on this topic. Approximately 1 out of every 5 individuals will experience at least one major depressive episode during their life, and the likelihood of recurrent episodes is significant.
Major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide.
Four times as many men as women commit suicide, but young women attempt suicide three times more frequently than young men. Despite the grief and sadness one feels following bereavement or loss, though, life goes on and the person generally eventually resumes their usual activities. Major depression can be life-threatening, as the statistics at the top of this page demonstrate. As with other medical conditions or illnesses, though, symptom severity and frequency may be on a continnum or spectrum, with some individuals having only some of the symptoms to be described, and other individuals having many or all of the symptoms. It is not the number of symptoms, though, that is associated with increased risk for suicide.