Depression: What Is It?

Depression is not a sign of weakness or a negative personality. It is a major public health problem and a treatable medical condition. It’s natural to feel down sometimes, but if that low mood lingers day after day, it could signal depression.

Seasonal Depression

If your mood matches the weather – sunny in the summer, gloomy in the winter
– you may have a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
The onset of SAD usually occurs in the late fall and early winter, as the
daylight hours grow shorter. Experts say SAD affects up to 3% of the U.S.
population, or about 9 million people, mainly in the northern part of the
country.

Depression: What Is It?