Depression is a condition that is experienced by millions of people all over the world, and it is something that is sometimes difficult to put into words for people who have never struggled with it before. It is extremely common though. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimated that roughly 16.2 million adults in the US had at least one major depressive episode in 2016.
This represents 6.7 percent of the U.S. adult population. Meanwhile, depression is most common in people who are between the ages of 18 to 25. Despite the fact that this is such a widespread problem, people who suffer from depression are finally being recognized and taken seriously by the medical community.
Now, it has become more socially acceptable than ever for people to seek therapy for their mental problems, but there is still sometimes a gap in understanding between people who suffer from depression and people who do not. These are two groups of people who look at the world in entirely different ways, and sometimes it can be difficult to communicate in situations like that.
Art has always been a great medium to convey abstract and emotional concepts like depression or mental illness, and can sometimes illustrate the point much better than a simple conversation. Music especially has done a great job at conveying the emotions of depression, and for just a few moments placing the listener in the shoes of the depressed songwriter. Visual art can also capture the essence of the struggle as well, although it does leave a bit more open to interpretation, and requires a bit more consideration and analysis than a song or a movie that will make the important points more obvious. The images below are examples of different visual artists from around the world who have attempted to capture the spirit of depression.
