Out of experience from working with patients, what do you think would be a factor in depression, or feeling lonely?
There have been many books and papers analysing just what affects depression. Many, many opinions; some from personal experience.
To sum up millions of words, it is things like isolation; having nobody to confide to. Vulnerability, whether financial or personal. Living precariously adds a lot of strain in someone’s life. Previous experiences which have made your life difficult and traumatic already. Some people have already dealt with so much; abuse, problems at home or work. Substance abuse can make life more difficult. Anything that generally cuts you adrift rather than grounding you can make things a little more diffucult. This is all textbook stuff, though in my experience it is often true.
Many people have things in their life that triggered their depression, though with patients, they have to really trust you to let you know what those are.
Of course, you don’t have to have all (or any of the above). You can have a loving family, great friends, be doing a job you loved, and still be depressed. Sometimes people don’t have any idea why they feel the way they do. And that’s equally valid.
But ultimately what affects each of us can be very different.