Depression

Depression is a common health condition, not a weakness or a flaw in character. It changes how you feel, think, sleep and handle daily life. It can happen to anyone, at any age and in any walk of life.^1,2

The good news is that depression can be treated. Most people feel better with the right help, and help often starts with a regular doctor. This page gives you the big picture and points you to our detailed pages on each topic.

What is depression?

Doctors call the main form major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression. Everyone feels sad or down sometimes. Depression is different because it lasts, it affects many parts of life, and it does not lift just by trying harder.²

A person may have depression when, for at least two weeks, they feel low or lose interest in things most of the day, nearly every day. They also have other changes, such as poor sleep, tiredness, feeling worthless or trouble focusing.¹ People with fewer signs can still benefit from care.¹

Depression often happens along with other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and long-term pain.^1,2 See Depression with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pain.

There are several kinds of depression, such as persistent depression that lasts for years or depression after having a baby. See Types of depression. Low moods that swing with periods of very high energy may be bipolar disorder, which is treated differently.

How common is it?

Depression is one of the most common health conditions in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that about 1 in 20 adults worldwide has it. Women are affected about one and a half times as often as men.⁵

In the United States:

• From 2021 to 2023, about 13% of people age 12 and older (about 1 in 8) had signs of depression on a standard checklist. That is up from about 8% ten years earlier.³
• It was most common in teens and young adults. It was least common in people 60 and older, at about 9% (roughly 1 in 11).³
• Almost 9 in 10 people with depression said it made work, home life or time with others harder.³
• Only about 4 in 10 people with depression had seen a counselor or therapist in the past year.³

Separate national data from 2021 found that about 21 million U.S. adults had a major depressive episode in a year.⁴

Common signs

Signs vary from person to person. They can include:¹

• Feeling sad, anxious, "empty" or hopeless most of the time
• Losing interest or joy in hobbies, people or things you used to like
• Feeling tired or slowed down, or restless and unable to sit still
• Sleeping too much or too little; eating more or less than usual
• Trouble focusing, remembering or making decisions
• Feeling guilty, worthless or like a burden
• Aches, pains, headaches or stomach trouble with no clear cause
• Drinking more alcohol, or pulling away from others
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression does not always look like sadness. Men may seem angry or irritable, or turn to alcohol. Older adults may say they feel numb or flat rather than sad.¹ Read more in Signs and symptoms of depression, Depression in men and Depression in later life.

What causes it?

There is no single cause. Genes, brain biology, stress, hard life events and a person's way of thinking all play a part.^1,2 Long-term illness and some medicines can also bring on depression or make it worse.¹ In later life, losses such as the death of a spouse, giving up driving or moving from home can add to the risk.⁹

You did not cause your depression, and it is not something you should be able to "snap out of." See What causes depression.

What helps

Several treatments have good evidence. Many people need to try more than one before finding what works best for them. The badges show how strong the research is (see how we rate evidence).

For how doctors choose and combine these, see Treatment for depression.

Getting checked

Experts advise that all adults be screened for depression, including older adults and people who are pregnant or just had a baby.⁶ Screening usually means a short set of questions at a checkup. Medicare covers one depression screening a year in a primary care office. With Original Medicare, it costs you nothing if your doctor accepts Medicare's payment terms.¹⁰

Your doctor may also check for health problems that can look like depression, such as thyroid trouble, and look at your medicines.⁹ To prepare, see Getting checked for depression. You can also try our private mood check-in to help you decide whether to talk with someone.

Living with depression and helping others

Recovery often comes in steps, with good days and bad days. Keep appointments, take medicines as prescribed and tell your care team what is and is not working. Support from family and friends makes a real difference.⁹

If you are worried about someone, gentle, steady support helps. See Helping someone with depression.

All depression pages

• Signs and symptoms of depression
• Types of depression
• What causes depression
• Getting checked for depression
• Treatment for depression
• Antidepressant medicines
• When depression doesn't get better
• Self-help for depression
• Depression in later life
• Depression in men
• Depression with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pain
• Helping someone with depression

Related: Grief, Loneliness, Sleep and insomnia, Apathy and depression in dementia and What Medicare covers for mental health.

In this section

When to get help

Make an appointment with your doctor if low mood, loss of interest or other signs last more than two weeks, or if they get in the way of daily life. You do not need to wait until things are very bad.

In later life, suicide risk is highest in older men, especially men who are widowed or divorced. Families should keep a close eye on older relatives who live alone.⁹

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.