^Exactly. It is because many people that have not had depression cannot understand that speeches and inspiring stories and youtube clips do absolutely nothing for the severely depressed except perhaps make them worse by thinking about what they missed out on in life. These people, having never suffered severe depression, honestly think that you stay depressed by surrounding yourself with gloom. Just get up, start doing things and making decisions and think positive thoughts! If only it were that easy ... Go back and have a closer look at the evidence.

It does depend a bit on the type of depression. Non-melancholic can often be cheered up to some degree. As well in atypical depression the person can be cheered up by good news etc. Even though the bulk of people have non-melancholic depression most of us here would have chronic depression and be of the melancholic type. That explains why the thread did not get a good response.