Facing Depression

Depression will become the leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. And in Singapore, one in fifteen people will have depression at least once in their lifetime. What exactly is depression? People do feel sad occasionally, but such feelings are temporary. This is unlike clinical depression, which is a prolonged feeling of intense sadness, accompanied by a sense of hopelessness, social withdrawal and at times, may drive one to self-harm and suicide. Depression has the ability to destroy a person’s physical and mental health if left untreated. In this 4-part series, Facing Depression gains access to patients undergoing treatment and those who have recovered. They share their struggles, hopes and fears as they battle this invisible morbidity.