The former First Lady has given voice to a feeling experienced by many: long-term low mood brought on by world events

Elegran, you are so right. Grief is normal and is a sign of being sensible of danger and loss.
From what understand clinical depression is grief that is a danger to the person's life or their persistent inability to function .

I agree Elegran Mental illness does seem to be the latest ‘thing’, but it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit unhappy or to have a low mood at the moment given the circumstances.

That doesn’t mean that millions of us are mentally ill !

Likewise grief isn’t a mental illness despite what a certain Prince Harry might say.

Michelle Obama may or may not have a new book in the pipeline, but the Presidential election is certainly looming!

Were her comments well timed?

I feel a new book coming on. Sorry, that sounds cycnical I know. But that is what usually happens in the world of celbs
Travelsafar I don’t consider Michelle Obama a ‘celeb’. That description is usually applied to airheads who go on reality TV shows, or at best, film or theatre actors, or minor royals.

I think of Michelle Obama as someone who has degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
Someone who complemented her husband’s role as President of the United States of America and leader of the Free a world with the grace and dignity fitting to the office of First Lady.

If she writes another book, I’ll buy it.

Me neither.

There is a difference between feeling down in the dumps, anxious about things beyond our control and clinical depression.

Maggie Once upon a time, feeling in a low mood because you had a real reason for worrying about some genuine danger was regarded as normal and even a sensible reaction to the situation. After all, if you weren't concerned about it, you wouldn't be motivated to do whatever you can to improve things, so you'd end up in even more danger.

Now it is referred to as a "mental health condition" I see a world of difference between justified concern and anxiety on the one hand and neuroses and psychoses on the other. I don't like them being lumped together.

I think those who are crowding into and around pubs are the ones with mental health issues.

It is good to hear someone speak out about feeling this way.
Many people, especially those living alone, may have felt they were coping badly and could be relieved to hear that others feel the same.

She and Barack must be feeling very frustrated.

Maggie I think we must all have mental health issues at the moment!

Another book? Possibly. But I do like and admire her, so will read it anyway.

I’d say a low mood at the moment is quite natural and to be expected. I took part in a YouGov survey yesterday. I ticked yes to feeling slightly more anxious and slightly more worried during the current pandemic.

On the next page I was told I’d reported having mental health issues. To be honest I think I’d have mental health issues if I wasn’t feeling slightly perturbed about the world right now!

I reckon that if Biden announced now that she's to be his running mate, the US might suddenly wake up and decide to get rid of the Orange One in November.

I can dream, I suppose.

Both she and her husband must despair at the behaviour and pronouncements of the current President.
It’s not difficult to see why she would be depressed at events in the US.

My partner and I are depressed at events in the US (and the UK of course, but I suspect that would be another thread ...)

I really admire her, her life has been about trying to make things better, she must despair watching the present incumbent .

Unfortunately I feel cynical about this too. She’ll probably write another book.

I feel a new book coming on. Sorry, that sounds cycnical I know. But that is what usually happens in the world of celbs.

A short time ago, she was the 'First Lady', with all the power and influence that went with it. It must be difficult to adjust to being an ordinary citizen again.
Yes, the state of the world is distressing, especially as so much is caused by human activity and is therefore unnecessary. There will never be peace in the world because so many people thrive on conflict.