Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and it affects around 280 million people in the world. Though there is effective treatment available for mild, moderate, and severe depression, it’s a difficult disorder to manage. Severe depression can lead to suicide in the worst-case scenario and 700,000 people die from it every year, especially people between 15 and 29 years old.
These are only a few statistics but they show just how common depression is, which means it’s a relevant topic and it’s not a bad idea to explore it in an essay. Depression is often misunderstood, so it’s actually very important to discuss it and bring awareness to it.
People who have never experienced depression or studied it in any way often think that it’s just sadness, but that’s not the case. Depression affects the way people feel and act. It’s defined as a sustained decrease in mood and/or interest, which can last weeks, feelings of self-loathing and worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts.
Not only can you talk about depression itself in your essay and explain how it affects people’s quality of life, emotional state, and more, but you can also talk about treatment methods, the population sectors that are most affected, and the barriers to effective care that make things so much more difficult for people who suffer from depression.
You can also approach the topic of depression by exploring the risk factors, which include genetics, biochemistry, environmental factors, societal factors, and personality type. Self-help and coping mechanisms are also worth exploring since people with depression must be actively participating in their recovery.
Depression is a complex topic, so there are many ways you can flesh it out to bring something of value to the table. We recommend you do your research so you can take an informed stance, ask provocative questions, and call for specific action.
Make sure your essay is as compelling as it is informative. This is a very important subject and whatever you decide to focus on for your essay, it should have weight and make an impression on the reader.
On this page, you can find examples of essays on depression that can help you find your own point of discussion or create an argumentative or persuasive essay outline.