What is Depression?
Depression (known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder) is the most common mental health problem in the nation and across the globe. Everybody gets the blues from time to time. For most of us, we bounce back from these low moods and get back to enjoying our lives. For some people, however, the sense of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness doesn’t dissipate, and it begins to affect how you think, how you feel, and how you act. When these feelings persist, this mood disorder can interfere with daily life and that can lead to psychological and physical issues.

Who has Depression?
Approximately 17.3 million people in America are affected by depression, representing over 7% of the adult population. The condition is more common in females, who are twice as likely as men to suffer a depressive episode. Research shows the condition is rising most rapidly among teens and young adults. About 36% of girls will experience clinical depression during their teenage years compared to 13% of teenage boys.

Consequences of Untreated Depression?
It is estimated that nearly 2 out of every 3 people struggling with depression don’t seek or receive treatment for their condition. When left untreated, depression can ruin your life. Clinical depression increases the risk of substance abuse, destroys relationships, interferes with your ability to excel at work, and makes you more vulnerable to certain medical conditions. For example, people with depression are more likely to develop heart disease and are more likely to die following a heart attack than people without the condition. Even more troubling is the fact that depression is the cause of two-thirds of suicides.


Untreated depression severely increases the risk of:

Substance abuse
Relationship problems
Work problems
Heart disease
Suicide