What are the causes of depression?
Hereditary factors
Several studies associate depression with the genetic background of the patient. Indeed, if a person has a first degree relative affected by depression, they are 2 to 4 times more likely to be affected than a person who does not.
Psychological factors
People react in different ways when experiencing with external events. The way people react is shaped during childhood. A child who has been exposed to many stressful or traumatizing experiences can develop different character traits compared to someone that has gone through a peaceful childhood. These types of varying character traits can influence whether she/he will develop depression, compared to someone who has grown up with healthy support during stressful life events.
Environmental factors
There are several external events that can lead to depression, such as a separation, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, health problems, financial difficulties, moving away from home, bullying, etc. The younger the person is when exposed to such stressful events, the more likely it is that they will develop depression. In adolescence, peer victimization and bullying is often a stress factor which can lead to depression.