A person vulnerability to circumstances is usually the main culprit of depression. Yes, genetics may be one of the causes, gender may also be one of them, there are a numbers of factors:

Inheritance (increased risk if they are from parents)
Until today, scientific datas on inheritance genetics has NO direct influence of depression.. However, family background plays a very significant role and is considered as one of the diagnosing criteria in depression by GP. For example, if your immediate family has history of depression or some mental illness than you may inherit a certain kind of vulnerability, it may link to stress in relationship or even money.

Medical illness
Low level of neurotransmitters in brain or other neurological illness such as epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease that disrupt hormone levels are proven lead directly to depression.
 
Gender and age
Women are almost twice likely more prone to depression compare to men. Studies have shown that this may be due to hormonal changes, childbirth, stress of juggling and balancing between family and job.
The most common age to first experience depression is at late twenties. This is probably linking to the stress of transmission from young adult to mature adulthood where more responsibilities is expected like responsible towards own family, aging parents and even heavier responsibility at work.

Environmental factors
Life experiences or a specific event like bereavement, loss of job, divorce or separation or even anniversaries, trouble with boss, debt problems, changes at work will trigger intense emotion like shock, denial, anger, guilt and bargaining situation.
It is very difficult to pinpoint that depression is due to one or two stressor in ones life experience. All of us know that stress may be part of today’s life but to undermine the cause of the stressor is a no-no. Untimely stress on top of specific events may cause eruption of depression.

Alcohol abuse
Depressed people tends to drink more in order to release the depress feeling or to stop the suppress feeling. Alcohol do decrease anxiety and other depressive symptoms which eventually causing chronic drinking. Chronic drinking can lead to depression and vice versa. In order to tell which one comes first, stop drinking and observed, if one stop drinking and depression kicks-in then depression has a life of it’s own.

NEXT: DepressionTreatment Guide