What is depression

also known as Depression Disorder

This is a common mental disorder that is more than just occasional feelings of sadness. It is a pervasive and prolonged state of low mood and emotional distress that can significantly impact a person's daily life, functioning, and overall well-being.

Facts
3.8%
of the population experience depression
280,000
people in the world have depression
10%
of women who have "postpartum depression"
700,000
people die due to suicide lead by depression every year

I went back to the forest where I used to play as a child with my younger brother. There's a tall oak tree that has been standing there for hundreds of years. My brother and I used to spend time in its shade. However, in just 20 years, a branch of mistletoe has grown and has almost entirely covered the oak tree with its lush and leafy wreaths. What you can see now are just a few weak oak branches that are struggling to hold on. I feel like that oak tree. Depression has surrounded me like mistletoe taking over the trunk of an oak tree. It is slowly draining the life out of me and wrapping itself around my mind, becoming uglier but more "alive" than I am.

Andrew Solomon
author of “The Noonday demon”
next:
major depression