"Depression is becoming a more common and costly mental health problem in modern western societies, and the more modern, the higher the incidence. Even more common is lack of understanding of the condition, both for the sufferers and those close to them, that can disrupt or destroy the very relationships that keep heads above water. The debilitating symptoms affect our body, mind and spirit, sometimes to the point of suicidality.

Anti-depressant medication can kick-start normal functioning, but cannot prevent relapse. Drugs are unable to teach understandings and skills needed to cope with the complexities and demands of modern living. It is a lack of such understandings and skills that result in a symptom template of feeling worthless, hopeless, helpless, powerless, purposeless, and a life that seems meaningless.

Understanding how we let our self-worth get eroded, how we get caught up in negative thinking that blinds us to the signs of hope. Skills such as problem solving, managing anger and stress, getting help to meet our needs better, taking back the power we give away to others. Knowing how to identify our goals and develop strategies to fulfill them.

For sufferers it is often "the depression we had to have". When the lid of the compost bin of depression is opened, the light reveals a richer and more fertile soil, in which we can plant and grow new meanings and purposes, and resources to prevent us falling into the pit again. Research shows that some people do not fall into depression despite their life sometimes being a bitch. Their Well Being, their identified attributes and skills, are learned. The path of recovery and resilience entails new learning for those who are vulnerable that can lead to life enrichment and mastery." 

Irene MacFarlane, Dip Art Ed; BA; B App Sc (Psych)(Hons)
Coordinating Psychologist, The Well Being Project 
Editorial - Published in The Courier Mail (13 October 2001)

It mimics grief symptoms. This may stem from unresolved grief and loss issues, not necessarily about death – there many things we can lose.

Depression is not simply an illness, but a sign that something is wrong. Many people get depressed, many in response to life difficulties, but not all people who experience life difficulties get depressed.

Modern life – westernisation- can influence depression. The more modern and westernised the lifestyle greater the incidence of depression. 

There is a loss of a sense of mastery in life. Depressed people do not feel as though they are in control of their life.

Social isolation and lack of community can lead to greater self-focus and rumination (negative thoughts) and less positive “other” focus.

Having current distress or unresolved historical distress that has gone on for too long can be a precursor for depression .

Depression: the cause – It is not what happens to you but how you respond to what happens to you that causes depression, that is, learned repetitive and habitual ways of thinking, responding, behaving, relating, predicting, and perceiving, eg perfectionism.

Negative self focus.

Depression is not just a “chemical imbalance”. Although when depressed there is a temporary change in brain chemistry, this goes along with the depression, it does not cause the depression. It can be more factually stated that it is the depression that causes the change in brain chemistry, for the duration of the depression, just as a smile causes a change in brain chemistry, for the duration of the smile. 

Although it is apparent that depression can “run in the family”, genetic influences only contribute in part, are only a pre-disposition or a tendency, and are not a determining influence. There is no such thing as a “depression gene”. Modelling or copying of coping (or not-coping) strategies also influence the occurrence of depression in families.

Women are 2-3 times more likely to have depression than men. It is tempting to interpret this as suggesting physiological (hormonal) factors are the cause. Although hormonal factors contribute, depression is however a complex interaction of bio/psycho/social factors, and the social conditions experienced by women in general are radically different to those experienced by men.