Young People and Depression: A Sociological Perspective.

Depression haunts the lives of many, especially our young people, this is becoming more and more apparent in Western countries. Depression is a common mental disorder characterized by sadness, loss of interest in activities and by decreased energy. Depression is no respecter of status, intelligence, class or race. It can strike anyone at any time. The severity of depression can range from mild to acute. At the most severe end of the continuum individuals can experience life threatening and profound feelings of despair and sadness. Depression is differentiated from normal mood changes by the extent of its severity, the symptoms and the duration of the disorder. The aim of my study is to look at young people’s experience of depression. This will be done by using interviews with several suffers of depression. They will tell their stories of how they came to realize they were depressed, challenges which they faced with the medical profession, elements of stigma and in some cases the loss of hope. These are real people with real account of their experiences. It is important to realize that young people get depressed and that it is an important issue, which needs to be highlighted