While sympathetic to severe depression - a catatonic person isn’t going to just rise up and start swinging kettle bells- I don’t dismiss the general wisdom here. There are STEPS to severe depression and to fight it off before it gets to that state get out in the sunshine, sweat, get your heart rate up and exercise your body. Routinely; daily if necessary. It can FEND OFF the worst and should not be dismissed. It should be reflected in how we raise kids and expectations at
College etc
A certain percentage of more severe cases are intrinsic and unrelated to exercise, lifestyle or upbringing. And others involve such a dearth of energy, and often “leaden limbs” syndrome, such that getting out of a chair is an ordeal, that hearty exercise is not at all realistic. I fully agree that everyone who can exercise should, but not everyone can, and the implication that depression would disappear if everyone did is false.