Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a common, yet serious, mental health disorder. Depression interferes with an individual's daily life and normal functioning and may cause emotional pain for the individual with the disorder as well as family and friends. By understanding the symptoms, risk factors, criteria for diagnosis, and treatment options available, depression can be recognized early, and depressive symptoms can be reduced or alleviated.
Depression can affect people of any age, including children and adolescents. Although children and adolescents might naturally have mood swings as they grow and develop, depression is different. This mood disorder can affect how children and adolescents interact with friends and family. It may prevent them from enjoying school, sports, hobbies, or other normal childhood or adolescent activities. Because children and adolescents are still developing, treatment for this complex disorder can be challenging. However, various forms of psychotherapy and medication have been effective treatments for this age group.
Suicide—taking your own life—is a tragic reaction to stressful life circumstances. Approximately 700,000 to one million people die by suicide in the world each year. This means someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds. In the United States, there is one death by suicide every 12 minutes. Understanding the issues surrounding suicide and mental health is a vital step in preventing suicide, helping others in crisis, and changing the way all of us view suicide and mental health issues.
Depression is widely experienced in the United States and globally. People with depression report a lack of interest in life and activities that they otherwise normally enjoy. Complementary and integrative approaches can be an adjunct to conventional medicine and should be considered as complements to, not replacements for, medical treatments. A great deal of research is currently evaluating these approaches and demonstrating that they are not only safe, but effective, in reducing the symptoms of depression.
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