Women are more at risk for major depression than men, and people under 40 are at higher risk than older people. Other risk factors include having just having given birth, having a physical illness, a family history of depression, previous episodes of major depression, and prior suicide attempts. Going through stressful events without a support network of friends and family, and currently abusing drugs or alcohol can also increase your chances of becoming clinically depressed. But depression can also strike people who have none of these risk factors. Take this brief assessment to see whether you might have symptoms of depression.