How widespread is depression?

MOOD disorders are alarmingly common. It is estimated, for example, that more than 330 million people worldwide suffer from serious depression, a condition characterized by overwhelming sadness and a loss of pleasure in everyday activities. It has been estimated that in 20 years, depression will be outranked only by cardiovascular disease. Little wonder that it has been called "the common cold of mental illness."

I try to keep my self busy and surround myself with positive things and positive people.

I try to keep the

I think it depends on how you use the word depressed. I think many use it to me anytime they have felt down, sad, or blue for a period of time. That is just normal. It would be more weird to not ever have periods of sadness in life. Clinical depression is something more severe and prolonged that inhibits the person's ability to function normally or enjoy life at all. As for a solution I'm not sure clinical depression is more common or rather we are just more aware of it and proactive in seeking treatments to alleviate it. Back when people were struggling to survive and life was more about meeting basic needs it wasn't on the priority list.

As for normal sadness or feeling down and dissatisfied I think its a normal response that serves a valuable purpose in a few ways. When something hurts its a trigger to look at the source and perhaps make adjustments. If you find yourself often sad as a result of how someone treats you it is incentive to look at that relationship and what is wrong or get out for example. Or its because we experience a loss and in that way its healthy to mourn as it means we cared and reminds us to try to appreciate things we have. I think its also a byproduct of human drive to always be striving for more and to be better, happier, etc...which is a positive thing but if you are always looking to strive forward it can make appreciating what you have and are sometime less satisfying. One needs balance between the two. I think humans though will never be happy all the time and I'm not sure it would be good for humanity if we were. It would mean our ability to care was probably also diminished as well as our drive to achieve. I don't think humans are probably less happy overall now then any other time really.

Well, considering the time that we are in, depression is the normal state.

I think that the DSM IV needs to reclassify happiness as the abnormal disease. Anyone that can see where the world is going and finds happiness and satisfaction in it is wacko in my opinion.

Well at the moment Muslim`s are very widespread they are like rats up a mooring rope fleas on floating drift wood turning up everywhere and breding like fly`s very depressing indeed

"Japan's suicide rate of 36.5 per 100,000 people for men ranked the second-highest among the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations after 70.6 for Russian men, according to the World Health Organization. In third for G-8 nations was France, with a rate of 26.1 per 100,000 for men.

The suicide rate of 14.1 per 100,000 people for Japanese women ranked the top among the G-8 nations." - Associated Press, 2010 (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5...

"Clinical depression affects about 19 million Americans annually. It is estimated to contribute to half of all suicides. About 5%-10% of women and 2%-5% of men will experience at least one major depressive episode during their adult life. Depression affects people of all races, incomes, ages, and ethnic and religious backgrounds, but it is three to five times more common in the elderly than in young people." - http://www.emedicinehealth.com/depression/article_...

Just thought I'd share that with you.

Here is what the Bible says on the subject:

"On the other hand, we exhort YOU, brothers, admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all." - 1 Thess 5:14

"Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart;

And those who are crushed in spirit he saves." - Ps 34:18

"Look! The hand of Jehovah has not become too short that it cannot save, nor has his ear become too heavy that it cannot hear." Is 59:1

The only solution is God's Kingdom, for which we pray (Matt 6:9,10). We have our quick-fixes as I call them such as modern medicine and it has helped many with this problem, but our only true solution lies with the Kingdom and no side-effects!

"And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people that are dwelling in [the land] will be those pardoned for their error." - Is 33:24

"And Jehovah will certainly remove from you every sickness; and as for all the evil diseases of Egypt that you have known, he will not place them upon you, and he will indeed put them upon all those who hate you." - Deut 7:15

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”" - Rev 21:4

"And I will be joyful in Jerusalem and exult in my people; and no more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or the sound of a plaintive cry." - Is 65:19

Humanity is not as bad as some would think. Happiness is more wide spread when you keep yourself around like minded people. Walk with the wise and you will become wiser.

It's everywhere. Even in your food. Food sad.