For an illness shared by so many, clinical depression should be better understood and more openly addressed.
Even so, a social stigma and shame is still linked to this disorder on the part of its sufferers, who include some 15 million American adults, the vast majority of whom seek no medical attention.
Depression: Out of the Shadows is a documentary that profiles a variety of people benefiting from treatment.
Among them: novelist Andrew Solomon, whose mother's death triggered his depression and left him unable to work or care for himself; Ellie Zuehlke, whose bout with postpartum depression after the birth of her first child led her to thoughts of suicide; and 17-year-old Hart Lipton, who, while in sixth grade, suddenly became depressed and was eventually diagnosed with a bipolar disorder.
While examining these personal stories, the program -- which airs 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday on PBS -- also focuses on depression's causes and treatments.
Following the 90-minute documentary, Jane Pauley (who has written about her own struggles with bipolar disorder) hosts a half-hour panel discussion with mental health experts to discuss the issues raised in the film.
Other shows this week to look out for:
• So You Think You Can Dance is back in step for its fourth season. It premieres (8 p.m. Thursday on Fox) with the first of several audition shows. The top 20 dancers will be revealed June 5, with the first live results show airing June 12.
• Or maybe you prefer funny business to fancy footwork. NBC's Last Comic Standing returns for a sixth season with host Bill Bellamy (Def Comedy Jam) in search of the world's funniest comedian. Comics from across the United States as well as 20 other countries will be trying out. In the premiere, Richard Belzer and Steve Schirripa scout for talent at New York auditions, while Fred Willard and Kathy Najimy check the comedy scene in Tempe, Ariz. The series premieres 9:30 p.m. EDT Thursday.
