Depression

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time. more>>

Signs and Symptoms
  • Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed more>>
Treatment

A variety of treatments including medications and short-term psychotherapies have proven effective for depression. more>>

Getting Help: Locate Services

Locate mental health services in your area, affordable healthcare, NIMH clinical trials, and listings of professionals and organizations. more>>

Related Information
News
Publications/Resource Materials

Read, print, or order NIMH booklets, fact sheets, and other publications on depression such as:

Stories of Depression
An introductory easy-to-read booklet describing signs, symptoms, treatment options, how to get help, and how to help someone who may have depression.

Depression
A detailed booklet that describes major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder (manic-depression); lists symptoms; reviews possible causes; tells how depression is diagnosed; and discusses available treatments.

More Publications>>

Depression Research
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