Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality or background. It is estimated that 1 in 6 people experience it at some point in their lives, but it affects everyone differently. Depression is different from sadness and regular mood changes because it lasts longer and interferes with a person’s daily activities. 

Signs and symptoms:

• Feeling sad or anxious often or all the time
• Not wanting to do activities that used to be fun
• Feeling irritable‚ easily frustrated‚ or restless
• Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Waking up too early or sleeping too much
• Eating more or less than usual or having no appetite
• Experiencing aches, pains, headaches, or stomach problems that do not improve with treatment
• Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
• Feeling tired‚ even after sleeping well
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself

Treatment – Support of family and friends helps a person in the recovery process. Self-care recommendations include healthy diet, regular exercise and pursuing personal interests. Health-care providers may offer psychological treatments such as behavioral activation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), or antidepressant medication