Depression: Characterized by feelings of profound or ongoing sadness, or disinterest in enjoyable activities spanning weeks, months or years.

Signs/Symptoms:

• Persistent sadness, anxiousness, or emptiness
• Hopelessness
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helpless
• Loss of interest in hobbies, activities, relationships, sex
• Feeling tired or irritable
• Trouble concentrating, remembering, and/or making decisions
• Difficulty with sleep, too much or too little, frequent waking
• Weight gain or loss, eating more or less than usual
• Thoughts of death or suicide (with or without attempts)

Risk Factors:

• Chronic physical or mental illness
• Major life changes and/or stressful life events
• Few social or family supports
• Low self-esteem
• Family history of depression
• Little/No sense of personal control over circumstances
• Post-partum / major surgery