Most people think that depression is just sadness – it is more than that. But they would be surprised to hear that they are wrong. Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Many people suffer through depression. Rachel Cooper, who has suffered from depression since she was 27, says, “It feels like a visual of what hell would be like. It makes me feel helpless, alone, and on an emotional roller coaster.” Says Rachel Cooper who has gone through depression at age 27. Depression is more than just sadness, it takes control  of the person and makes them feel helpless so much to the fact that suicide may happen.
Depression is the #1 factor of suicide. Many people go through depression and feel like there is no way out, so they decide to commit to suicide. Jessica Starr who was a meteorologist for FOX 2 news in Detroit, sadly committed suicide at age 35.

Many celebrities, parents, students, and everyone in between have a likely chance of having gone through depression. People have a higher risk of depression if they’ve recently been through a stressful life event. It’s estimated that 16.2 million adults in the United States, or 6.7 percent of American adults, have had at least one major depressive episode in a given year. Not only adults but 75% of students have gone through depression and did not seek help.  

  Sometimes depression develops without any obvious cause. It could be genetics. The some of the symptoms of depression are dispersion/sad mood, loss of pleasure in all or most activities, significant weight change or change in appetite, change in sleep change in activity, fatigue or loss of energy, diminished concentration, feeling of worthlessness or guilt, and lastly suicide self-harm.

 Most people try to hide to fact that they are going to depression. The other time’s people just can’t hide it, “I did not cover it up because its a disease or sickness I can’t control so the signs and actions were noticeable.” says Rachel.

   Depression can also affect the family or friend of one who has been or is depressed. Storm cooper age 13 whose mom has been through depression said: “ When I realized my mom was going through depression, I almost went into it myself.”  Depression hurt not only the person who is in depression but the people around them like the person friends. “I felt bad for him and wanted to help him find a way out of depression.” Said Ali Srour whose friend has gone through depression from age 14-17.

  In conclusion, depression is a lot more than just sadness. And when you don’t tell anyone that you are suffering it may end very badly. It can take over and drive someone straight to suicide. Even though that one person is going through depression, it affects their friends, family, and everyone around them. Depression scares almost everyone, but no one really knows how bad depression is until they have gone through it.

Written by Sara Srour