Depression

Depression

What is it?

Depression is a persistent low mood alongside a loss of interest or pleasure in things, present most of the day, most days, for at least two weeks, and it usually comes with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, or self-worth, ranging from mild to severe.¹ It’s one of the most common conditions a GP or therapist sees. Globally, an estimated 5.7% of adults suffer from depression.

Why could this be a problem?

Depression is officially classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a leading global cause of disability; this is how debilitating depression can be. Besides the symptoms of depression, physical health gets worse, as well as relationships and individual’s abilities to engage in their life and communities. It can also carry a real risk to safety, which is part of why persistent low mood is worth taking seriously rather than waiting out.

If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for urgent help now rather than waiting for an appointment. See our Urgent Help page or contact your nearest emergency department.

What can be done?

Evidence-based psychological therapy (particularly CBT) and, where appropriate, medication are both effective, and for moderate-to-severe depression they often work best combined. Treatment usually starts with an assessment to understand severity and contributing factors, followed by a structured plan built collaboratively at our Cape Town practice: regular therapy sessions and medication if needed.

Resources

This self-screening tool is intended to help identify patterns worth discussing with a doctor; it is not a diagnosis and does not replace a full medical assessment.

Man standing alone by the water at dusk, reflecting on burnout and overwhelm

FAQs

Depression differs from ordinary sadness in how persistent it is and how much it affects daily functioning. It needs more than willpower to shift.

While mild depression can sometimes lift on its own, moderate to severe depression usually requires professional intervention and is unlikely to resolve without treatment.

Not necessarily. Many people use medication for a defined period alongside therapy, then taper under medical guidance.

Therapy often brings initial improvement within six to eight weeks, though this varies from person to person. Medications tend to begin to change mood in about two weeks.

No one deserves to be depressed, even if you feel like you do. That is one of the changes in thinking that is common with depression.

This is one of the most severe symptoms of depression and requires urgent treatment.4 If you are feeling hopeless, reach out for support to someone you trust, and see our Need Urgent Help section.

Grief is often expected and in response to something that caused it, whereas depression doesn’t always have an identifiable cause.5 Depression tends to be more endless and has wider physical symptoms associated with it, and is more self-focused, whereas grief is typically focused on what has been lost. Grief can become complicated and lead to depression, but they are different states. If you are worried grief has become depression, it is worth looking for medical support.

References

  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2013:222.
  • World Health Organization. Depressive disorder. 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
  • Bains N, Abdijadid S. Major Depressive Disorder. [Updated 2023 Apr 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559078/
  • Marchetti I, Alloy LB, Koster EHW. Breaking the vise of hopelessness: Targeting its components, antecedents, and context. Int J Cogn Ther. 2023 Sep;16(3):285-319. doi: 10.1007/s41811-023-00165-1. Epub 2023 Apr 27. PMID: 39131585; PMCID: PMC11314313.
  • Jacobsen JC, Zhang B, Block SD, Maciejewski PK, Prigerson HG. Distinguishing symptoms of grief and depression in a cohort of advanced cancer patients. Death Stud. 2010 Mar;34(3):257-73. doi: 10.1080/07481180903559303. PMID: 20953316; PMCID: PMC2953955.