What Is Depression? "Sadness is a part of it, but you can be sad without being depressed. Depression is deeper and more encompassing." - Judith Belushi Pisano Depression is a whole body illness. It affects mood, thought, body, and behavior. It has medical causes just as heart disease and skin cancer do. And just like heart disease or skin cancer, depression won't go away by itself-it is not something you can just "get over". Depression is not a sign of personal weakness. Nor does a person have to feel suicidal to be depressed. Research shows that one in ten people in the United States suffer from depression, however nearly two thirds do not get help or treatment because symptoms: are not recognized are blamed on personal weakness are so disabling that the people affected cannot reach out for help are misdiagnosed and wrongly treated as medical problems. With diagnosis and treatment, over 80% of those suffering from depressive illness can feel better, most within a matter of weeks.       WHAT IS DEPRESSION? | WHO HAS DEPRESSION? TREATMENT OPTIONS | RESOURCES & LINKS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM | DEPRESSION MAIN PAGE   BACK TO HEALTHWORKS | RETURN TO TV HOME PAGE © 1999 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.