Since 1990, sick leaves due to mental illnesses have nearly doubled - and the trend continues to rise. Depressive moods have become one of the most common conditions; who hasn’t experienced them personally or known someone among family, friends, or acquaintances? Where do depressions come from? How can we recognize and understand them? What purpose do they serve? And what can those affected and their relatives do therapeutically? You will find answers to these and other questions in this book.