[Tomte]

While I don't have actionable advice for you, on the subject of depression I strongly urge everyone to read this blog post by Wil Wheaton: "Depression Lies", http://wilwheaton.net/2012/09/depression-lies/ It moves me to tears.

Afterwards, read his wife's account of it, "The Other Side of Depression", at http://www.annewheaton.com/the-other-side-of-depression/

For an overview of the current scientific knowledge, an introduction to brain chemistry and the psychology of depression, and -- most importantly -- a forceful argument that depression is a bona fide illness, a biological/medical condition, not just some "oh, pull yourself together" thing, see this video of Stanford professor Sapolsky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOAgplgTxfc