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Show This Video to Anyone Who Doesn’t Believe Depression Is a Medical Condition

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Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. An estimated 350 million people of all ages from all over the globe live with depression.

Yet, it’s still a highly misunderstood condition.

A particularly harmful misconception about clinical depression is that it’s the same as feeling a bit down.

Clinical depression is different,” says the narrator in the animated video below. “It’s a medical disorder and it won’t go away just because you want it to.”

Screen Shot 2015-12-16 at 11.41.55 AM
Ted Ed/Helen M. Farrell

Like a broken arm, depression is not something a person can just snap out of or brush off. The animated video below, by Helen M. Farrell and Ted Ed, attempts to clear up some of the misconceptions and spread awareness about causes and treatment options for depression. It also gives tips on what people can do to support loved ones who live with this mental health condition.

So next time someone tries to say depression isn’t a medical condition, just go ahead and send this video their way.

Watch the video below: 

h/t Metro 

Originally published: December 16, 2015
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