Childhood depression is a very real problem: a problem compounded by the common misconception that children don’t get depressed. In fact, 2.5% of children suffer from major depressive incidents. Triggers such as divorce, the death of a friend or family member, or family problems may cause childhood depression.
Depression occurs in women twice as often as in men. Rates of seasonal affective disorder and chronic depression in women are also higher. While alcohol and substance abuse in conjunction with depression is lower in women, depressed women suffer more often from eating disorders, migraine headaches, and anxiety disorders.