This thread has been very interesting, and as is typical, I find myself in agreement with 2kitties and Soledad.

Too often, people say, "I'm depressed", when they mean, "I am sad" or "I am having a bad day".

Too often, people say, "I am fine", or "That's okay" , when truely they aren't, and it is not.

Medications for depression, treatment for all forms of mental health, the public's awareness, are all coming to the fore, finally.

I don't see it as "everyone is on meds..." so much as I see it "meds are now finally available to everyone, not just those slashing thier wrists...".

Our society asks alot of us, especially the younger people...do well in school, get along with your completely torn apart family, ignore the media messages, help support the family, etc.

For those of you that spend your life in a happy place, I am glad for you. May you never know depression. For the rest of us, though, life is truly a struggle sometimes, even when seemingly, we have it 'all'.

Every one of us is close to someone suffering from depression. We might not know it, but, it is there.