Lesson Two - The Difference between Sadness and Depression

Depression, like most mental illnesses, is not caused by just one or two factors. There can be multiple factors that influence the development of depression, but, for this course, we will only focus on the main aspects. These factors are by no means comprehensive, nor is it guaranteed that just because someone exhibits one or more of these factors that they automatically have depression.
 
Factors that cause depression can have both a biological and a circumstantial basis. It is important to remember that depression is usually the result of long-term events and personal factors rather than immediate, short-term life events. Long-term can range anywhere from a couple of weeks to years. Remember though, that depression, along with all mental illness, does not have an exact formula.