Severe depressive disorder is much larger than just having feelings of sadness at a moment in time; it impacts a person’s entire life for the long term by creating changes in how a person’s brain functions and processes emotions and logic and creates an inability for the individual to experience happiness. This creates a difficult daily life due to biological changes that are made at an early age; doing basic tasks that are usually completed daily, such as going out in public, participating in group activities with other people, and communicating and meeting other people, becomes practically impossible. In addition to the biological effects of the illness itself, a person living with this illness experiences many very real obstacles, such as poverty, social exclusion, and stigma, that can push them deeper into a cycle of illness by creating additional barriers, making it even harder for them to obtain treatment or get help. Care needs to go beyond treating the physical symptoms associated with depression so that a person can break the cycle of illness. The best way to break this cycle is through early intervention, active treatment by physicians, families, and community support systems, to help empower a person through recognizing what a person is able to do. Addressing all of person’s needs quickly and eliminating any social barriers that may hinder a person’s independence would allow that person to continue being independent and live the most fulfilling life possible. Today’s new approach to treating depression is directed towards creating an environment that is a place where people who are experiencing depression are treated with dignity and feel safe, creating a climate for growth and achieving a sense of empowerment in sustaining hope for a continuous recovery and resiliency.