Staying Well

Depression affects more than 350 million people, and all too often causes a loved one to take his or her own life.Contrary to popular belief, depression is very prevalent in society and has been on the rise in the past decade, causing many of its victims to tragically end their lives. In fact, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) reports that suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans annually.At some point in your life you may encounter hard times which cause you to feel down in the dumps. However, there is a difference between feeling sad and suffering from depression. Depression is a serious medical disorder that causes tenacious feelings of sadness, hopelessness and helplessness. It can interfere with your daily tasks and can lead to suicide.According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are two types of depression: major depression and persistent depressive disorder. Major depression consists of severe symptoms such as persistent sadness, inability to eat, sleep, enjoy life a