Depression is a mental health illness that can impact your self-esteem, mood, motivation, functioning at school, at work or with your friends and family. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, often referred to as the "common cold" of mental health disorders. Depression is an illness that alters neurochemicals in the brain. Therefore, those experiencing depression can't just "snap out of it." Research has indicated that counseling or psychotherapy can lessen both the intensity and length of this illness.
Some of the common signs of depression include a sad mood lasting for at least two weeks, significant change in weight or appetite, changes in sleep habit, fatigue, physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression is very treatable and treatment typically includes individual or group counseling and sometimes a medication such as an, antidepressant.