“Dead Blue: Surviving Depression”

HBO documentary Premieres Jan. 6, 10 p.m. (Also airs Jan. 10, 1:30 p.m.; Jan. 14, 11 a.m.; Jan. 19, 11:35 p.m.; and Jan. 25, 3:15 p.m.)

Depression is rampant in the United States, although most cases of the disorder go undiagnosed. This powerful documentary attempts to describe the symptoms of depression and offer insight into the recovery process through the experiences of some very interesting people. The film features journalist Mike Wallace, psychologist Martha Manning and author William Styron, who each talk about their experiences with severe depression. Styron, in particular, has managed in the past to write about depression in such remarkable detail that even those who have not experienced the disease can glimpse its horror. He is equally eloquent in this program. The segment on Wallace is enriched by interviews with his wife, Mary, who talks of watching a loved one suffer, while Manning’s daughter gives a teenager’s perspective. “Dead Blue” was directed by Eames Yakes. Don’t miss it.