How many people think suicide or depression is an illness?

Depression is an ILLNESS.

It is a chemical imbalance in the brain.
There are chemicals in the brain called Neurotransmitters -These send signals from one neuron to the next across synapses – ( they are chemicals that pass signals from one cell to another cell)
When these signals start to misfire -you can have depression.
They can even measure these signals in brain studies.
Medication can put these neurotransmitters back on track -which in turn will (hopefully, lift the depression.)
Yes, depression is an illness, just like other physical illnesses, altho it may not be as apparent as other physical illnesses,(cancer or diabetes – etc.)

depression is an illness… suicide and cutting are side-effects of the illness.

if it’s not an illness what else would you call it??

Depression can be an illness. Your brain is an organ and it can be damaged just like any other organ of the body. However, suicide and cutting aren’t illnesses. They are symptoms. Why does it bother you that people call depression what it is? It’s not something that can be debated. It’s a FACT that it’s an illness. Plus, it’s a good thing it is because that means there is hope for those with it since illnesses can be treated.

Depression is an illness, but suicide is not. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom of depression.

Depression can be treated, but you cannot beat it without help. It is up to you to go get the help you need, go see a counsellor, join a support group. Find other people with depression and talk about it with them.
Depression cannot be cured, but you can learn how to deal with it.

Depression is a complex illness. It has many different subtypes, and sufferers exhibit a wide range of symptoms. Doctors know a lot about it, but they still have much to learn.

One thing that doctors are just beginning to understand is what causes depression. There was a time when depression sufferers were dismissed and told that it was all in their heads. Now, it is understood that depression is a very real illness, and knowing the cause makes it possible to treat it more effectively.

It is known that those who suffer from depression have a chemical imbalance in their brains. Levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect, are decreased, while levels of the stress hormone cortisol are increased. What’s not well understood is why levels of these hormones are abnormal.

The hippocampus is a part of the brain that controls long-term memory, spatial navigation and emotions. In those who are or have been depressed, the hippocampus is smaller than it is in non-depressed individuals. Some scientists believe that some people are born with a small hippocampus, and are therefore predisposed to depression. Others theorize that cortisol is toxic to the hippocampus, so it shrinks in those with increased levels of cortisol.

Depression has been found to run in families, so many scientists believe that genetics plays a role in the illness. Others, however, attribute the family connection to shared experiences among parents and children. Studies about the possibility of a depression gene are ongoing. I hope you get better. Try the resource below, its helped a few of my friends.

depression is an illness. it is a chemical imbalance in the brain. suicidal thoughts, cutting, ect are results of the illness.

mental ILLNESS…

Well i dont think depression in an illness….. i think something triggers it like say if someone you loved died? or other problems…. depression can be sorted out…. you just have to make the person happy again.

It depends on what type of depression it is!

Situation Depression is NOT really an illness. It’s more you reacting to something bad or stressful that’s happened.

Pretty much all other types of depression ARE illnesses.

And the urge to cut and suicidal thoughts are NOT "illness’", but symptoms of depression.

Depression is an illness, widely recognized as such, and treated medically. This is not a matter of opinion.

Suicide is an action, that is usually, but not always, caused by an illness, most often untreated depression.

Cutting is the iffy one. It is usually a side effect of some other problems, but it is somewhat addictive, and can continue after the original cause is gone, so there are some arguments for treating it as a separate concern…though I don’t know that I would consider an addiction to be an "illness" as such.