Depression is a common illness that affects 17 million Americans every year - that s nearly one in ten people. Depression doesn t discriminate. It affects men, women and children, and people of all races, cultures and income levels. Depression can be caused by one or many factors. There is emerging evidence that, much of the time, depression is caused by changes in biochemistry, or the brain chemistry that regulates mood.
Family history plays a part as does one s own feelings about oneself and the world.
Lastly, environmental factors such as poverty, violence, abuse and neglect make people already susceptible to depression more vulnerable to its effects. Depression is diagnosed if a person experiences persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in usual activities in addition to four or more of the following signs for more than two weeks. There are effective treatments for depression. Great strides have been made in the development of antidepressant medications. These medications work on the supply and balance of neurotransmitters in the brain which affect mood.