Think of the last event in your life that you would describe as depressing. It’s probably not a pleasant thought–maybe something along the lines of a pet passing away or a loved one getting into an accident.
The word depression is used a lot under different contexts.
As a teenager, I’ve heard a lot of my friends sarcastically remark about how depressing their day was: things like, “I’m actually depressed, I completely failed that test” or “It’s been a pretty depressing day, I hit every red light on my way here.” My friends were perfectly fine–of course. They were just unable to understand the severity and magnitude of what “depression” was to other people.
Someone else I knew, however, who was diagnosed with clinical depression had a much different experience. It was a complete impairment of daily function. He stopped going to school, hanging out with us, and even eating. I could have been a better friend then if I knew better. Recently, when I asked him what it felt like, he simply said it felt “heavy,” which begs the question:
- Depression is a common but serious mood disorder.
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimated that in 2021, 3.7 million U.S. adolescents had experienced at least one episode of major depression.
- Depression can be triggered by biological, environmental, psychological, and genetic risk factors.
- You can help someone with depression by encouraging them to seek help from a professional.
What is Depression?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes depression as “a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.” There are many types of depression, but the main focus of this article will be on the most common one: major depression. NIMH estimated that in 2021, 3.7 million, or 14.7% of U.S. adolescents had experienced at least one episode of major depression that caused severe impairment. Even worse, only 44.6% of those adolescents sought treatment in the year prior.
Why Aren’t More Adolescents Seeking Help?
It is recommended to seek help immediately when dealing with depression, however, many social barriers can get in the way. Along with the onset of puberty come some of the main causes of adolescent depression: identity crisis, academic struggles, parental disputes, or loss of a loved one. It can be stressful to share these life events with a friend or therapist and according to NIMH, people avoid consulting a health care specialist because they feel that being prescribed antidepressants will make them “different” than their peers. Due to social barriers like these, adolescents may forgo professional treatment and try to address their depression on their own.
Research suggests that depression can be triggered by a multitude of biological, environmental, psychological, and even genetic risk factors, including:
- Major negative life changes, trauma, stress, or anxiety
- Personal or family history of depression
- Hormonal shifts including during pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause
- Economic instability or poverty
- Low self-esteem, sexuality, and identity challenges
“If someone has a parent or sibling with major depression, that person probably has a two or three times greater risk of developing depression compared with the average person,” according to Stanford Medicine. NIMH points out that people who have a chronic disease–such as cancer or diabetes–or who are in physical pain, are at a higher risk of developing depression. And, according to the Mayo Clinic, “Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression,” primarily due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.
Reducing Stigma
Depression has a misguided social stigma that equates itself to someone’s shortcomings, a stereotype that has to change. The habit of making fast, erroneous judgments–especially toward someone who is depressed–is lamentably ingrained in our society today. This norm is so persistent in today’s world that most people who are severely depressed do not seek help, fearing that they will be ridiculed. More people need to know that depression is a serious mental illness that many people face. Understanding depression is crucial, especially considering the growing number of young adults and teens dealing with it today. By recognizing the weight of the term and the reality of the disorder, society can better support those who experience it and rid the social stigma that surrounds it.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that you can help someone with depression by talking to them about it, explaining that it is a health condition, and urging them to seek help from a professional.
Sources
Personal friend. Interview conducted by Justin Wang. March 2025.
National Institute of Mental Health (n.d.). “Major Depression.” National Institutes of Health; updated July 2023. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
Levinson, D.F., Nichols, W.E. “Major depression and genetics.” Stanford Medicine; (nd). Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/depressiongenetics/mddandgenes.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend.” April 5, 2023; Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression/art-20045943
Kaiser Family Foundation. “Roughly 1 in 5 Adolescents Report Experiencing Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression.” News release, Feb. 6, 2024; Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/press-release/roughly-1-in-5-adolescents-report-experiencing-symptoms-of-anxiety-or-depression/
Radez, J., Reardon, T., Creswell, C., Lawrence, P. J., Evdoka-Burton, G., and Waite, P. “Why do children and adolescents (not) seek and access professional help for their mental health problems? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies.” Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Jan 21; 2020.30(2):183-211. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7932953/
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Mentor
- Maya Piper is a science communicator at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Content Expert
The author interviewed a friend diagnosed with clinical depression.
