“Everybody has bad days, but depression can make every day a bad day. I would spend days on end in bed, unwilling, or even unable to move, for depression can be so debilitating that it becomes physically disabling.”

Harry is the events and community officer at the Mental Health Foundation. He’s also a student and is taking time off from school to focus on his mental health. But this wasn’t something he planned to do.

It took Harry a long time to recognize that his feelings were more than just sadness and boredom. His final year of college, he missed numerous classes, skipped social outings and spent more time every day alone, blaming it on being introverted or tired. After reaching a point of feeling “completely unable to carry on with normal life,” Harry reached out to his doctor and got the support and help he needed.

Harry isn’t alone. More than 16 million men and women in America have had at least one major depressive episode in the last year, making it one of the most common mental illnesses in America. And many of these people don’t realize that they are facing depression until it impacts their ability to live a normal life.

That’s why it’s important for everyone to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression so you can take action and get support before it’s too late.

Here are 10 signs that may indicate someone has depression.

1. An unusually sad mood.
2. Loss of enjoyment and interest in activities that used to be enjoyable.
3. Lack of energy and tiredness.
4. Feeling worthless or feeling guilty though not really at fault.
5. Thinking often about death or wishing to be dead.
6. Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
7. Moving more slowly or sometimes becoming agitated and unable to settle.
8. Having sleeping difficulties or sometimes sleeping too much.
9. Loss of interest in food or sometimes eating too much.
10. Changes in eating habits that may lead to either loss of weight or weight gain.

A major depressive disorder lasts for at least two weeks and affects a person’s ability to work, carry out usual daily activities and have satisfying personal relationships. It impacts a person’s emotions, thinking, behavior and physical well-being.

If you’re not sure how to recognize if someone has depression or what to do next, take a Mental Health First Aid course today. Mental Health First Aid teaches people the signs and risk factors of depression, available resources and how to connect those in need to the most appropriate care.