Brief periods of sadness happen at times because life happens.  But a major depressive episode lasts longer than two weeks.  The individual feels depressed most of the time or loses interest or pleasure in most activities.  Children and adolescents may show irritability rather than sadness.  The depressed person will also show other symptoms that are described in the following table, How Do You Know You're Depressed?

Ethnicity, education, income, and marital status are unrelated to the prevalence of depression.  However, gender is.  Women show depressive moods more than men do.  Yet many depressed men are more likely to be irritable rather than sad, when depressed.  Consequently, their depression may go unrecognized and untreated.

Depression does not indicate a moral or spiritual failing.  Many people are genetically predisposed to becoming depressed.  A depressed person is more likely to have a parent, child, and/or sibling who has been depressed.  Chronic stress, trauma, other anxiety disorders, attention deficit, learning disabilities, eating disorders, social rejection, major loss, general medical conditions, and family problems are just some of the situations that can lead to depression.

How Do You Know You’re Depressed?