Depression affects 300 million people of all ages worldwide. Depression is a common and serious mood disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. Unlike sadness, depression is an acute feeling of deep sadness and despair that lasts for days, weeks, or even months. Symptoms include feelings of loneliness, rejection, poor concentration, lack of energy, trouble sleeping and, sometimes, suicidal thoughts. Depression is not a choice. It is a disease. Depression is a serious illness that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in the United States), affects approximately 8% of the American population over the age of 12 years. Although effective treatments exist, less than 50% of people with depression seek professional help. People are reluctant to seek help for many reasons - they think they can get out of depression on their own, or they think no one will understand how they feel. There are many myths around depression. The two most common are that depression is triggered by negative life events and that people suffering from depression simply need to find something that makes them more joyful and they will get out of depression immediately. Neither of these myths reflects what an illness depression is, and both myths only feed the stigma of depression. Five things you need to know about depression It can affect anyone. Depression affects people of all ages, ethnicities, social backgrounds, and geographic locations. Depression is a common illness. WHO estimates that depression will become the second most common disease causing disability by 2030. The first will be HIV. Depression may have no obvious cause. The onset of depression may not be triggered by a specific event. Depression can occur at any time and anywhere. Depression cannot be overcome quickly. Some people with depression attempt to self-medicate by turning to alcohol, drugs, sex, or other risky behaviors to help them cope with their thoughts and feelings. But their attempts to quickly find healing lead to self-destructive behavior in the long term. Depression is treatable. About 80% of the time, people who receive professional treatment for depression say that it helped them and that they felt better. Treatment includes a combination of medication, psychotherapy and alternative approaches (exercise, proper nutrition, etc.). Five ways to help someone who is depressed Be patient. Depression is a disease that requires professional treatment. It takes time to learn healthy coping skills, and this takes time. Listen without judgment or judgement. Talk less - listen more. Giving others the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings is extremely helpful. Focus on the present and small steps. With depression, looking at the big picture leads to overwhelming feelings. That's why it's better to live in the present - day by day. Get involved and do something together. Contact the person, develop a plan and move forward - go to the mall, watch a movie, cook an interesting dinner, take a walk in the park. When a person is depressed, they tend to isolate themselves from others. A great way to maintain contact is to engage the person in a relaxing or fun activity. Learn more about depression. Knowledge is great power. The more busy you are, the more actively you will be able to influence depression. Depression is real. Depression is a serious illness. No one chooses depression, just as no one chooses any other disease. Statistics show that almost all of us know someone - a friend or family member - whose life has been affected by depression. The good news is that depression is treatable. And people suffering from depression will be able to.