Depression is a broad term commonly used to describe a set of symptoms that can range from mild, requiring little or no treatment, to symptoms severe enough to interfere with a person's life on a daily basis and sometimes to the extent that life in itself can become intolerable. According to the Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity Report 2001, a quarter of all adults living in the UK will experience some kind of mental health problem during the course of any one year.

Depression is a mental health problem that can affect any one of us at any time of our lives. It is indiscriminate of age, gender, culture and background. The Patient UK website states that 2 out of 3 adults will experience an episode of depression at some point and the Mental Health Foundation quote that that 10% of children up to the age of 15 have a mental health disorder.

So how do we know if we are suffering from depression? Milder symptoms of depression include short bouts of low moods, lethargy, sadness and feeling a bit fed up and out of sorts, and these will often disappear after a few days or so. However, clinical depression is more serious in that it isn't possible to just "snap out of it" and symptoms can persist for weeks, months and even years without proper help.

Some symptoms of depression

• Feeling tired and lethargic for most of the time
• Persistent low moods and sadness, a feeling of despondency
• Sleep disturbances, either inability to sleep or sleeping too much
• A pessimistic outlook on life
• Feeling anxious and nervous
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Frightening and irrational thoughts
• Loss of pleasure in activities and lack of interest in sex
• Avoidance of social contact and social situations
• Loss of appetite or an increased appetite and associated weight loss or weight gain
• Emotional outbursts for no apparent reason
• Irritability

Each and every one of us can experience one or more of these symptoms at times without being depressed, however, if symptoms persist for more than a couple of weeks or they interrupt your ability to function on a daily basis then the chances are you might be suffering from depression.

Who suffers from depression?

Life changing events can sometimes precipitate a period of depression including having a baby, death of a loved one, the breakdown of a relationship, money worries and debt, problems at work, physical illness and disability. Some groups of people are more at risk of a depressive illness than others and these include the long term sick and unemployed, the homeless, single parents, those who are in care or institutions, those with a past history of depressive illnesses themselves or in their family, and those battling with alcohol or substance abuse problems. Chemical imbalances, genetics and physiological factors can play a role in some types of depressive disorders. Seasonal changes involving the long dark winter days and nights can bring on an episode of depression, and for others; there is no apparent or identifiable reason at all. According to research statistics, women are more likely than men to seek help for a mental health problem or depression however, men are more likely to commit suicide as a result of being depressed.

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