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Mental Health Awareness
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Mental Health Awareness Project

Understanding
Depression

A look at Major Depressive Disorder — the symptoms, the science, and how we can help.

Developed by
Andrew Taylor
Assisted by
Kason McMickle
Adonis Ross
Research topic
Major Depressive Disorder
Class
Health
→Space advance  ·  ← back  ·  F fullscreen  ·  B blank
Overview

What is Major Depressive Disorder?

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or clinical depression, is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts — for at least two weeks at a time.

🧠

It's a medical illness

Depression is not laziness or weakness — it involves real changes in brain chemistry and function.

⏱️

It lasts ≥ 2 weeks

Ordinary sadness passes. Depression persists and interferes with daily life.

💊

It's treatable

80–90% of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment.

Patient Perspective · Q1

Common symptoms

How someone with depression might think, feel, and act.

😔 Feel
  • Persistent sadness or emptiness
  • Hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt
  • Irritability or frustration
  • Loss of pleasure (anhedonia)
💭 Think
  • Trouble concentrating or deciding
  • Memory issues / brain fog
  • Self-critical thought patterns
  • Thoughts of death or self-harm
🚶 Act
  • Withdrawing from friends / hobbies
  • Sleep changes (too much or too little)
  • Appetite / weight changes
  • Fatigue or slowed movements

Source: NIMH depression overview. 5+ symptoms nearly every day for at least 2 weeks may indicate MDD.

Patient Perspective · Q2

What causes depression?

There's rarely one cause. It's a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

01

Biology & Genetics

Family history raises risk. Imbalances in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine affect mood regulation.

02

Brain Chemistry

Changes in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex are seen on brain scans of depressed patients.

03

Life Events

Trauma, loss, abuse, chronic stress, or major transitions can trigger episodes.

04

Medical Conditions

Thyroid problems, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and certain medications can contribute.

05

Substance Use

Alcohol and drug use worsen or trigger depressive episodes.

06

Personality & Thought Patterns

Low self-esteem, perfectionism, and chronic negative thinking increase vulnerability.

Patient Perspective · Q3

Depression by the numbers

You are not alone. Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the U.S.

0
U.S. adults had a major depressive episode in the past year
NIMH, 2021 NSDUH data
0
of all U.S. adults affected
NIMH, 2021 NSDUH data
0
of U.S. teens (12–17) had a major depressive episode
NIMH, 2021 NSDUH data
0
adult women reported an episode, versus 6.2% of adult men
NIMH, 2021 NSDUH data

WHO reports depression is common worldwide and more women are affected than men.

Patient Perspective · Q4

Why people don't seek help

Over half of U.S. adults with mental illness never receive treatment. The reasons matter.

🙊

Stigma & Shame

Fear of being labeled "weak," "crazy," or a burden to others.

💸

Cost of Care

Therapy and medication can be expensive, and not everyone has insurance coverage.

🏥

Access

Some areas lack mental health professionals — especially rural communities.

🌫️

Symptoms Themselves

Depression causes fatigue and hopelessness — the very things that make seeking help feel impossible.

❓

Not Recognizing It

Many people think "this is just who I am" and never realize it's a treatable condition.

👨‍👩‍👧

Cultural & Family Pressure

Some cultures discourage talking about mental health or seeing a therapist.

Medical Expert · Q1

Risk factors & diagnosis

Who is most at risk?

  • Family history of depression or other mental illness
  • History of trauma, abuse, or major loss
  • Chronic physical illness (cancer, diabetes, chronic pain)
  • Substance use disorders
  • Certain personality traits (low self-esteem, pessimism)
  • Major life changes or chronic stress
  • Adolescent girls and adult women (2× higher rate)

How it's diagnosed

Clinicians use the DSM-5 criteria. A diagnosis of MDD requires 5+ symptoms present nearly every day for at least 2 weeks, including either:

  • Depressed mood, or
  • Loss of interest / pleasure

Tools include the PHQ-9 questionnaire, physical exams, lab tests (to rule out thyroid issues, etc.), and detailed interviews with the patient.

Medical Expert · Q2

How depression is treated

Treatment is often most effective when it combines multiple approaches.

Therapy

Psychotherapy

  • CBT — reshapes negative thought patterns
  • IPT — focuses on relationships and roles
  • DBT — builds coping & emotion regulation skills
Medication

Antidepressants

  • SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro)
  • SNRIs (Cymbalta, Effexor)
  • Take 4–6 weeks for full effect
Lifestyle

Daily Habits

  • Regular exercise — as effective as meds for mild cases
  • Consistent sleep schedule
  • Nutrition, sunlight, social connection
Advanced

For severe cases

  • ECT — electroconvulsive therapy
  • TMS — transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • Ketamine / esketamine therapy
Medical Expert · Q3

Why identifying depression matters

Untreated depression is dangerous. Early identification saves lives and improves outcomes across every area of life.

❤️

It can be fatal

Depression is the #1 risk factor for suicide, which is the 2nd leading cause of death among 10–14 year olds in the U.S.

🫀

It harms physical health

Depression raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic pain.

🎓

It disrupts life

School, work, relationships, and sleep all suffer. Teens with depression often see grades and friendships decline.

🔗

It worsens other conditions

It's often comorbid with anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use — and treating depression helps those improve too.

Medical Expert · Q4

Careers in mental health

Mental health needs more professionals — there's a career path for many interests.

PsychiatristMD who diagnoses & prescribes medication
Clinical PsychologistPhD/PsyD who assesses & provides therapy
Licensed Therapist / LCSWCounsels individuals, families, groups
Psychiatric Nurse (PMHNP)Nurse specializing in mental health care
NeuroscientistResearches brain function & mental illness
Clinical ResearcherRuns trials for new treatments at NIH, etc.
School CounselorSupports students' mental health daily
Substance Abuse CounselorTreats addiction + co-occurring depression

Explore: NIH LifeWorks career database.

Family & Loved Ones · Q1

Signs to watch for

What a friend or family member might notice from the outside.

Withdrawing from friends and activities they used to love
Noticeable changes in sleep (insomnia or sleeping constantly)
Changes in appetite or weight
Frequent tearfulness, irritability, or hopelessness
Declining performance at school or work
Unexplained physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches)
Increased substance use (alcohol, drugs)
Giving away belongings or talking about "not being around"
Urgent: If someone talks about suicide or self-harm — take it seriously. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
Family & Loved Ones · Q2

Stigma & stereotypes

Harmful myths stop people from getting help. Let's break them down.

Myth

"People with depression are just lazy."

Truth

Depression causes genuine fatigue and low motivation — it's a brain-based illness, not a choice.

Myth

"Just think positive — snap out of it."

Truth

You can't "think away" depression any more than you can think away diabetes. It needs real treatment.

Myth

"Antidepressants change who you are."

Truth

Medication helps your brain work as it should — most people feel more like themselves, not less.

Myth

"Only weak people get depressed."

Truth

Depression affects people of every age, gender, income, and profession — including athletes, CEOs, and world leaders.

Family & Loved Ones · Q3

Local resources

You don't have to figure this out alone. Help is available.

1

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 — free, 24/7, confidential support from trained counselors.

2

Your school counselor

Every public school has one. They can connect students to free therapy and community support.

3

NAMI Local Affiliate

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has local chapters offering free support groups for patients and families.

4

SAMHSA National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357) — free 24/7 treatment referral and info service.

5

Your primary care doctor

A family doctor can screen for depression, prescribe initial treatment, and refer you to specialists.

Family & Loved Ones · Q4

Trusted online resources

Credible because they're from government, medical, or nationally-recognized nonprofit sources — not random blogs.

nimh.nih.gov

National Institute of Mental Health

U.S. government's lead agency for research on mental disorders. Authoritative and evidence-based.

medlineplus.gov

MedlinePlus (NIH)

Run by the National Library of Medicine. Accessible, reliable, peer-reviewed health information.

nami.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization. Strong resources for patients, families, and allies.

samhsa.gov

SAMHSA

Federal agency leading public health efforts on mental health and substance abuse. Treatment locator included.

kidshealth.org

TeensHealth (Nemours)

Teen-friendly content reviewed by pediatric health professionals. Good for students first learning about the topic.

Bonus

How to support someone

You don't need to be a therapist. Small, steady acts of support matter enormously.

✓ Do

  • Listen without judgment or trying to "fix" it
  • Ask directly: "Are you okay? How can I help?"
  • Encourage professional help — offer to go with them
  • Check in regularly, even with a simple text
  • Invite them to low-pressure activities
  • Learn the signs of a crisis and how to respond

✗ Don't

  • Say "just cheer up" or "others have it worse"
  • Take their withdrawal personally
  • Compare their experience to yours
  • Pressure them to explain or "prove it"
  • Ignore talk of suicide or self-harm — act
  • Forget to care for your own mental health too
Bonus

Small things that actually help

Not a cure — but evidence-based habits that support recovery alongside treatment.

Move: Regular physical activity can reduce depressive symptoms and support recovery.

Sleep: Consistent sleep helps stabilize mood, energy, and concentration.

Connect: Staying connected lowers isolation and makes it easier to reach for help.

Pause: Mindfulness and breathing exercises can help calm rumination and stress.

Thank you for listening

You are not alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling — reach out.
Help works. And it starts with a single conversation.

Crisis line
Call or text 988
Treatment referral
1-800-662-HELP
Sources

Research & support sources

Official references used throughout the presentation, plus trusted places to keep learning or get help.

Photo credits: External images are used throughout the slides to match the topic of each section.
Title / support themes: SHVETS production on Pexels Reflection / self-care themes: RDNE Stock project on Pexels Symptoms theme: Prime on Pexels Causes theme: Aynur Latfullin on Pexels Community / statistics themes: Andy Barbour on Pexels Barriers theme: Nicola Barts on Pexels Diagnosis theme: Cedric Fauntleroy on Pexels Treatment / sources themes: SHVETS production on Pexels Importance theme: RDNE Stock project on Pexels Careers theme: RDNE Stock project on Pexels Loved ones / support themes: SHVETS production on Pexels Stigma theme: Karolina Grabowska on Pexels Online resources theme: Karolina Grabowska on Pexels