Depression

de·pres·sion /diˈpreSHən/

noun

1.     severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.

2.    the act of lowering something or pressing something down.

Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) is one of the most common mental illnesses today, affecting an estimated 350 million people around the world (WHO), but which paradoxically continues to be one of the least understood and most stigmatized mental disorders. Its essence is largely captured by its name—a perpetual “low” or depressed mood that significantly impairs everyday life.

However, that isn’t the whole story. The simplicity of the label belies the complexity of the disorder, because depression isn’t just feeling “down” or unhappy all of the time. There are a variety of biological, psychological, social, and genetic factors that contribute to the disorder, manifesting in a range of negative emotional states for the affected individuals.

Our blog aims to provide insight into this enigmatic disorder: to shed light on the nature of depression, while dispelling the misconceptions that thwart widespread understanding. There is still much to be discovered about the causes of depression, and a great deal of stigma to overcome, but trailblazing advancements in neuroscience are dramatically improving our understanding of the disorder as we speak!

Join us as we investigate depression and its stigma in this exciting era of neurological exploration.