In addition, chronic low-grade depression increases the risk of heart attack, and depression increases the risk of dementia. The very nature of the disease can interfere with a person's ability to seek help. That's why the support of family and friends is critical. The good news is that depression is one of the most treatable of all mental illnesses. Eighty percent to 90 percent of people respond to therapy by the end of one year of treatment.
Early intervention increases the chances for successful treatment.
A. Depression is not a sign of personal weakness and it's more than the blues. A person does not snap out of it. Depression affects a person's moods, thoughts, body, and behavior. There are three main types of depression, though within each the number of symptoms, their severity, and their persistence vary by individual. Major depression includes a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's functioning.