Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD), is a common illness that causes persistent feelings of sadness, low mood and loss of interest in activities. All ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups are vulnerable to depression, and it has very high personal, social and economic impacts.

Depression is also a major cause of death, particularly in young people, through suicide. Although it is one of the most common of all mental health conditions, there’s still so much we do not know.

From a public health perspective, depression can also be problematic because it is responsible for a considerable part of the burden of disease. Because the cause of depression is a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors, more research is required to find the best possible treatments and prevention strategies.

The development of effective treatments and preventions for depression is therefore one of the most important challenges for research in mental health.