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After reading this post, I'm compelled to out myself as someone who has been diagnosed with depression. Honestly, I am offended by some of the things you wrote. I don't really understand what you mean that depression is "chic." Are you talking about the "goth/punk rock" image? If so, then you have a very superficial notion of what depression really entails. I don't think insomnia, anxiety attacks, and intense bouts of hysterical crying are remotely close to "chic."

It is a myth that women are more frequently diagnosed with depression than men. I actually explored that topic in my first webpaper. Honestly, I think it is a mark of a patriarchal culture that comes out in some of what you said - there are a lot of women who use activity to distract themselves from their feelings, and a good amount of men who talk about their emotions. You state those reactions as if gender defines how a person responds to depression! Which is absolutely not the case at all. It may be for some people, but definitely not everyone.

Lack of recognition of depression would definitely not be a "cure" for it. That is a very dangerous statement, and I still don't understand how you think it is at all valid. If science did not recognize cancer as a legitimate disease, would it go away? Hardly.

Medication for depression does not work for everyone, you're right. But it has helped SO MANY people (myself included), that I think it is shameful and disrespectful for you to suggest that it is merely "the placebo effect." Clearly, you have not done your research on antidepressants. First off, a patient who's diagnosed with depression isn't automatically put on a drug. She may go through a lot of therapy first before drugs are even considered. Second, there are many types of drugs that have different affects on different people, which means that usually, with enough patience, someone can find a drug that will help her. Third, people with depression NEVER only take the drug they are prescribed. You have to take the drug AND be in therapy at the same time. You are also told to do physical activity as often as possible, since, as you noted, this can help ease some parts of depression.

I am really disturbed by a lot of what you had to say, particularly at how misinformed you are about mental illness. What can you do to help people who are depressed? Do some research before making broad-sweeping generalizations! Don't make claims about science you don't know about! Don't treat mental illness as if it were a fad! In light of how mentally ill the gunman at Virginia Tech was, I think now is an important time to get the RIGHT information out there about depression and not rattle off snarky presumptions that help no one.