European Depression Day Start › News < back 1 Oct 2022 European Depression Day was created by the European Depression Association and is celebrated every year on October 1st. Its purpose is to demystify and alert the population to this mental illness, raising awareness and giving special attention to those who unfortunately suffer from Depression for its prevention and psychological treatment. Unfortunately, depression is the leading cause of death by suicide. According to the World Health Organization, Depression is the most dominant health problem in the European Union, affecting around 50 million citizens. Currently, Portugal ranks 5th among the countries with the most cases of people with depression, with around 8% of Portuguese people diagnosed with this disease. Unfortunately, there is no pre-defined time for treating depression, with some people improving after a few months, and others needing treatment for years. It usually depends on the cause and severity of the depression, as well as the person's ability and willingness to follow the treatment correctly. An assertive treatment for depression is focused on improving symptoms and quality of life, reducing the risk of suicide. Although the causes of depression are not yet fully understood, there are several alternatives to treat this psychological illness, such as: - Medication; - Psychotherapy; - Electroconvulsive therapy; - Alternative therapies.