I've skimmed through quickly, so some brief thoughts -
I think our diets and lifestyles play a role in depression these days - not for everyone, but for some people. I also think learning unhealthy coping habits as a child - comfort eating or drinking, for example, to get away from a problem - can cause depression because you're not dealing with the problem and your putting toxins into your system. I also think there's a tendancy now - in the UK at least - to label just about everything as 'depression'. It's as if you're not supposed to have feelings anymore. People have a shit time of it and it will make them feel lousy, I think that's different to a depressive illness (although just as difficult to deal with). I have a friend who is always complaining she's depressed - she's in a loveless marriage she won't leave, she drinks a bottle of wine a night and has a very negative outlook on life. Is she suffering from depression or does she need to make some lifestyle changes? So I think, firstly, not all 'depression' is an illness (and therefore inherited via genetics).
If people make decisions about not having children for whatever reason that is their business and their right to do so. However, I think there's quite a fine line between an individual making a personal choice and eugenics. One person deciding they don't want to is fine, people talking about moral responsibilities not to do certain things scares the bejesus out of me. Personally I don't want more children because I worry I'd have another disabled one and I don't want to do that - not because I don't love him, but because he will need looking after for the rest of his life and I won't be around to do it (and neither is anyone else). If an individual has an abortion because they feel they can't cope with the disabled child they are carrying or puts a disabled child into care I understand that completely. I am vehemently opposed, though, to someone taking away that choice - either way - and would feel the same if people started claiming that those with mental health problems shouldn't be allowed to have children. Some people aren't good parents, but I believe in treating people as individuals rather than categorising them all in one way because of one particular feature of their life. In the UK there are a lot of children - it's estimated thousands each year - taken away from mums with mental health problems, in case they get ill and emotionally abuse them in the future. For some children that would be the right thing to do, but others could stay at home if there was more help for people with difficulties (and personally I'd like to see all the supermarkets banned from selling junk food, I think that would make a big difference to a lot of people).
Have only skimmed through quickly, will try and read again later! But those were my initial thoughts on what I read
