LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF DEPRESSION
1. What is depression? Depression refers to a disorder of mood that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is a common and serious mental health disorder that adversely affects how one feels, thinks and behaves, and leads to various emotional and physical problems, that can limit one’s ability to function at home and at work. According to WHO (“State of the world’s health” study, 2008) , depression is the leading cause of years lost due to disability, the burden being 50% higher for females than males. It is estimated to affect 264 million people of all ages worldwide. 2. How does depression manifest in a person? Depression affects 264 million people of all ages worldwide It is common knowledge that everyone at some stage in their life might experience feelings of sadness or grief, especially in response to traumatic experiences such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job or a bad relationship. However, it is when such symptoms become qualitatively differe...