It’s estimated that 16.2 million adults in the United States, or 6.7 percent of American adults, have had at least one major depressive episode or mood disorder in a given year.

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Sadness and grief are normal human emotions. We all have those feelings from time to time but they usually go away within a few days. Major depression, or major depressive disorder, however, is something more. It’s a diagnosable condition that’s classified as a mood disorder and can bring about long-lasting symptoms such as overwhelming sadness, low energy, loss of appetite, and a lack of interest in things that used to bring pleasure.

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Left untreated, depression can lead to serious health complications, including putting your life at risk. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for depression through options like therapy, medication, diet, and exercise.

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Any mood disorder represents a category of mental illnesses in which the underlying problem primarily affects a person’s persistent emotional state (their mood). Mood disorders are considered to include depression, bipolar disorder, persistent depression, seasonal depression/affective disorder. 

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Resources: 

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https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-mood-disorder.shtml