March 2025 | Inclusive Depression Research in Distressing Times

February 28, 2025

March is a month with an incredibly special day: the vernal equinox. From March 20th until mid-summer, each day will have just a bit more daylight than the one before. It’s something to look forward to, especially if this winter has hit you particularly hard. 

Symptoms of depression can be caused by a number of factors, including seasonal changes and negative events. A big factor is, of course, genetics. A recent study has, for the first time, identified genetic risk factors for major depression across all global populations by including people of African, East Asian, Hispanic, and South Asian descent. For much of the history of research on depression, the focus has been on individuals with white (European) ancestry. This new study identified different genetic variations of depression based on ancestry, which means that pharmacological treatment can now be adapted to improve outcomes for non-white/European-descended individuals.  

The University of Edinburgh/King’s College London study is another piece of evidence, in a long line of evidence, that shows that people experience things differently depending on their background. The care that our team provides recognizes how your background matters to your treatment.