Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, how you think and how you act. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.1
One in six people will experience depression at some time in their life and it affects one in fifteen adults a year. Depression usually appears during teenage years and the twenties, but it can strike at any time. Women are more likely than men to experience depression, but men also experience depression.
Certain medical conditions like thyroid problems, a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency can cause symptoms of depression, therefore ruling out other medical causes before a diagnosis is important.1
Vulnerability, Trauma, Resilience & Culture Laboratory
School of Psychology
Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Ottawa
136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON,
Canada, K1N 6N5
613-562-5800 ext. 4459
vtrac@uOttawa.ca