Depression and Your Health The mind and the body are intimately
connected, and our overall health depends on both working well.
This is most evident in depression: Research shows that people
who suffer from clinical depression face a higher risk of
contracting one of the stress-linked illnesses than the rest of
the population. Your mind and body are intimately connected, and
your overall health depends on both of them working well. This
is most evident in depression: Research shows that people who
suffer from clinical depression face a higher risk for
contracting certain illnesses, according to the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). One reason for this, the NIMH
says, is that depression can lead to poor physical and mental
functioning; a person with depression is less likely to follow a
healthy lifestyle that prevents some diseases. Also, if a person
with depression has a chronic medical condition that requires a
certain diet or medication, the depression may make it harder
for him or her to follow t