Anyone, no matter their age, gender, or life experiences, can suffer from depression. More than 17 million people in the United States reported having a depressive episode in the past year. In general, women are more often diagnosed with depression than men are, though this doesn't necessarily mean that women get depression more often than men do. Societal stigma often forces men to hide their feelings, which are seen as a sign of weakness.
Depression can be diagnosed in children, though it's more often diagnosed in teenagers and adults. As more research on depression is being done, doctors and psychologists are getting better at making accurate mental health diagnoses and raising awareness about these issues.
Concerned you might be depressed? Take our free online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. Takes less than 3 minutes to get your results.