Suspect Someone is Depressed? Look for This Sign in Their Instagram Photos

Depression is nothing to joke about. That's why this study might be worth a closer look.

The study from Harvard and the University of Vermont involved 150 people and found that people who suffered from depression were more likely to used photograph filters on Instagram that were black and white or tones with more blue, gray and just darker in general. People who weren't depressed usually used the filter Valencia that brightens their photos.

Now, just because someone posts some dark colored photos doesn't mean that they are depressed. They might just be being a little artsy fartsy, but it might be a tool to help you or someone else identify their mental state at the time.

I've had friends in the past who suffered from depression and believe me, it's not something to be taken lightly. If you think you or a loved one is suffering from depression, talk to someone about it. Remember you are not alone and there is help available.

To start off, the National Institute of Mental Health has a free booklet called Depression: What You Need to Know that you can download for free.