The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and some local hospitals offer support groups. People with depression need treatment in order to function fully and modulate the chance of recurrence. Treatment is highly effective. With appropriate treatment, many people can experience improvement in as little as 8 weeks. In addition, the costs to not getting treatment are very high.
People can lose their jobs, destroy relationships, and isolate themselves from their communities.
Physical and mental health suffer as well. Depression is also costly to society. American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 1988. What you need to know . The Economic Burden of Depression in 1990 .