The exchange of food has always been a statement of personal connection. Our rituals around food have told us who we are, how to behave, how to contribute, and how to preserve the unique aspects of our culture.

Depression, like many serious illnesses, robs its sufferers of access to a common language, one that fuels our ability to communicate.

Dealing with the stigma of depression is far easier in the abstract than face to face, often when we least expect it. I am a clinical psychologist and I suffer from a mood disorder. Occasionally someone will remark that these dual roles are a winning combination. Sometimes they are just the reverse.