What causes depression?
A number of risk factors contribute to depression.
Biological factors
Biological factors include our genes, as depression is more likely when there is a history of it in the family. After puberty, it is also more common in girls than boys.
Psychological factors
Psychological factors include how a person tends to respond to stress. Someone who experiences more negative emotions in response to a stressor is more likely to experience depression.
Social factors
Social factors include various stressors in a child’s or teen’s environment, such as the loss of a parent or caregiver, divorce, bullying, poverty, difficulties at school and abuse or neglect.
How common is depression in children and teens?
Currently, about 2 per cent of children and 8 per cent of teens in Canada experience depression.
Previous research suggested that people often experienced their first episode of depression in their mid-20s. However, more recent research suggests that most adults with depression actually experience their first symptoms of depression as children and teens.
Does depression occur with other conditions?
Depression commonly occurs with other conditions, especially
anxiety disorders. It can also occur with: