I think everyone reading this can say they have been depressed at one time or another. Money problems. A recent breakup. Physical ailments. Addiction. Abuse. Genetics. The list of causes are endless. Maybe you "Buck up" and pull through whatever is causing your depression. Maybe you don't. Some people live lives of quite desperation for decades. Some take their own lives. The societal costs are staggering.
Check out this infographic for some key stats on depression.
Depression goes way beyond "Feeling blue." It can happen to anyone, even those who seem to have it all. The field of depression is a mile wide and 20,000 leagues deep. Major Depression, Dysthmya, Bipolar disorder, Postpartum depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and many more varieties make up the landscape.
I could go on, but I think the following TED video does a much better job explaining the primary issues regarding depression better than I can, especially the social implications.
Depression is one of the most studied conditions, with treatments ranging from counselling to pills to light therapy to far more aggressive approaches. We have a lot of research and science surrounding depression, but we don't have a cure, and our current approaches are often unsuccessful.
"It's a Wonderful Life" is an amazing movie. While we would all love to have a guardian angel who could bring us out of our depression and show us how much we have to live for, life doesn't usually provide those types of miracles.
How can health care and the life sciences better tackle depression? More research? More medications? Better health care plans for treating depression? Broader awareness campaigns?
I'd like to hear your thoughts.
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