Major depressive disorder, or depression, is a serious mental health issue that can manifest in many different ways, from overwhelming sadness to social withdrawal. While there are a variety of signs and symptoms of depression to be aware of, it’s just as important to learn about the roots behind them.

Like most mental health disorders, there isn’t one identifiable cause for depression. It can be due to a combination of psychological, biological, genetic and environmental factors. By learning about these risk factors, as well as triggers for depression symptoms, you can gain a better understanding of depression and how it’s treated.

Risk factors for depression

Major depressive disorder, or depression, is a common mood disorder that can result in symptoms like overwhelming feelings of sadness, fatigue and irritability. While it can develop at any age, many people often experience symptoms for the first time during adulthood. Depression impacts approximately 16 million adults in America every year, with 1 in 6 U.S. adults experiencing depression symptoms in their lifetime.

As we mentioned earlier, there are a variety of risk factors that can play a role in developing depression. A risk factor isn’t the same thing as a cause. A risk factor refers to something that increases the likelihood of a person developing a condition or disorder, like depression. For example, genetics is a notable risk factor for depression. But having a family history of depression doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop it — just that you’re more susceptible to it when compared to those without a history of depression in their family tree.

We’ll go through some of the most common risk factors for depression that have been studied by research. It’s important to remember that depression symptoms rarely stem from just one factor, but a combination of multiple factors working together.

• Biological/genetic risk factors 
• Brain chemistry imbalances
• Hormonal changes
• Circadian rhythm differences
• Thyroid issues
• Family history of depression
• Psychological risk factors
• Neurotic and conscientious personality types
• Childhood loss or separation from maternal figure
• Negative parental influences
• Anxiety during childhood
• Major life changes or traumatic events
• Environmental risk factors
• Abuse
• Parental conflicts
• Unhealthy family relationships
• Bullying
• Discrimination
• Death of a loved one

Triggers for depression

Now that we’ve talked about risk factors for developing depression, it’s time to look at the factors that contribute to depressive episodes. While depression is a chronic mental health disorder, people with depression tend to experience their symptoms for a significant period of time, known as episodes. People are often diagnosed with depression if they experience persistent symptoms for at least two weeks, but episodes can range from several weeks to several months.

Triggers for a depression episode refer to anything that results in symptoms occurring. Triggers can be different for everyone, ranging from poor performance in a class to a particular place. It’s essentially anything that causes overwhelming feelings of sadness that interferes with your overall quality of life.

Potential triggers for depression include:

• Excessive or overwhelming stress
• Financial issues
• Getting rejected from a personal or professional opportunity
• Losing a job, getting cut from a sports team or being dropped from a class
• Poor sleep schedule/quality
• Hormonal changes
• Losing a loved one
• Ending a relationship with a partner or friend
• Feeling homesick
• Anniversaries or reminders of trauma
• Physical health issues

Depression episodes aren’t always caused by a trigger. Many people diagnosed with the disorder experience ongoing depressive symptoms without an obvious cause.

Lightfully U can help college students understand their depression risk factors and triggers

When you’re diagnosed with a mental health disorder like depression, it can be helpful to learn as much about it as possible. By understanding things like the risk factors and triggers for your symptoms, it can feel less like a confusing medical diagnosis and more like a problem that can be addressed and treated.

Psychotherapy is a key treatment option for depression. Talking to a therapist can help you identify and understand the risk factors that led to your depression but are out of your control. This can help you look at your diagnosis from a different perspective. Therapy can also help you acknowledge your triggers and learn coping strategies to help you through them.

At Lightfully U, our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program can help college students manage their depression triggers and improve their overall quality of life. It involves psychotherapy in a variety of dynamics, including individual, group and family sessions. You’ll receive evidence-based, clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care provided by deeply compassionate experts.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.