Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as , is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Introduced by a group of US clinicians in the mid-1970s, the term was adopted by the American Association for this symptom cluster under mood disorders in the 1980 version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), and has become widely used since. The disorder causes the second-most years lived with disability, after lower back pain.
Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.
Symptoms — what it feels like
·Low mood, low self-esteem, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, low energy, pain without a clear cause, disturbed sleep pattern (insomnia or hypersomnia)
Causes — why it happens
·Environmental (e.g. adverse life experiences), , psychological factors such as stress
Treatment
·, antidepressant medication, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, exercise
Complications
·, suicide
Did you know?
Asking someone directly about suicide lowers the risk - it doesn't plant the idea
Depression is a medical illness, not weakness or willpower; India's free, confidential helpline Tele-MANAS is 14416.
The sections below are general education drawn from public guidelines (NHS, Mayo, CPIC, WHO, ICMR). They are not individually reviewed by a clinician and are not medical advice — always talk to a doctor about your own health.
When to see a doctor
Usually fine
A low mood for a few days that lifts on its own is common; rest, routine, movement, and talking to someone you trust can help.
See a doctor
See a doctor if low mood, loss of interest, poor sleep, low energy, or hopelessness last most of the day for more than two weeks, or get in the way of work, study, or relationships.
Get care urgently
Get help right away if you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, or cannot keep yourself safe. Call your local emergency number or a mental-health helpline now, or go to the nearest emergency department. You do not have to face this alone.
General guidance, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, see a doctor.
Questions to ask your doctor
?How is depression diagnosed, and could something physical be adding to it?
?What support and talking-therapy options are available to me?
?Which everyday changes can help my mood and sleep?
?What should I do on a very bad day, and who can I call?
?How will we track whether things are improving?
?When should I come back for review?
What to note before your visit
·when your mood changed and what makes it better or worse
·sleep, appetite, and energy changes
·any thoughts of self-harm (tell your doctor)
·current medicines and any alcohol or substance use
Myths vs facts
✕Depression is just sadness or weakness — a strong person should be able to snap out of it.
✓ is a real medical illness involving changes in brain chemistry, biology and life stress. It is not a character flaw or a lack of willpower. Telling someone to 'just be positive' cannot cure depression, any more than it could cure .Calling depression weakness shames people into silence, so they suffer alone instead of getting treatable help.
✕Mental illness means a person is 'mad' (pagal), dangerous, or possessed.
✓Most people with mental illness are not violent — in fact they are far more likely to be harmed than to harm anyone. Conditions like and anxiety are common health problems, not madness or possession, and they can be treated.Sufferers are often taken to faith healers before doctors, which delays real treatment; mental illness is medical, not spiritual.
✕Depression can be fixed by prayer, willpower, or by getting married — you don't need a doctor or medicine.
✓Faith and support can genuinely help people cope, but moderate to severe usually needs proper treatment: talking therapy, medication, or both. Effective help exists and most people recover. Marriage is not a treatment.Marrying off a depressed young person 'to fix them' is common in India and often makes things worse for everyone involved.
✕Asking someone if they are thinking about suicide will put the idea in their head.
✓Asking directly and kindly about suicidal thoughts does NOT increase the risk — it lowers it, by letting the person feel heard and helping connect them to support. India's free, confidential mental health helpline Tele-MANAS can be reached at 14416.Silence around suicide costs lives; a caring question and a helpline number can be the turning point.