Here are some of the things that can increase your chance of becoming depressed.¹

• Going through upsetting life events. It's normal to feel down after a distressing event, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, being laid off or fired, or getting into serious financial trouble. But sometimes the feelings of sadness get worse and lead to depression.
• Lacking social support. Not having supporting friends or family around, or a friendly listener to discuss things with, can increase your risk of getting depressed.
• Having a physical illness. People who've had a stroke or a heart attack, or have a long-term and painful illness, can get depressed.
• Having a certain personality type. For some reason, some people tend to get more down about things than others. Although anyone can have depression, some people seem to be more vulnerable because of the way they see the world and how they respond to it.
• Being a woman. Women are twice as likely as men to get depressed. It might be just that more women see a doctor about depression because they are more willing to talk about how they feel. Or it might be that women have more stresses to deal with than men, such as having to juggle different roles in and out of the home.
• Having a history of depression in your family. Depression can run in families. You are more likely to get severely depressed if one of your parents had depression.
• Having difficult experiences as a child. Adults who had a poor relationship with their parents when they were children, or who were neglected as children, are more likely to get depressed than those who had a strong and supportive relationship with their parents. If you were physically or sexually abused as a child, you may also be more prone to depression later in your life.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.