What is Depression?

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It’s more than just a feeling of being “down” or “blue” for a few days. More than 20 million people in the United States, and 350 million people worldwide  have depression, and it has become a global public health concern.

Depression is a mental disorder that presents a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration. Moreover, depression often comes with symptoms of anxiety. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual’s ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

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