At med school, I learnt that depression is an illness of the brain. When we properly treat it with the correct medication, we restore imbalances and patients get better. Depression as a brain illness is a useful model. Many of my patients come seeking help, deeply ashamed of their depression, as if it is a character flaw. When I say that the brain is an organ and can get sick like any other organ in the body, it often helps to get past all the judgemental, self-critical chatter. The longer I am in this game, the more I realise that…
