When it comes to depression I really like this article, it explains the causes and treatments for depression better than anywhere else I have found so far.
On treatments:
http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk...n/treating.htm
If you have a bit of time read up on what depression is, how it works and what causes it. Armed with this information you will have a much better fighting chance!
http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk...erstanding.htm
As already stated before by Kiechi, drugs do not cure depression, they only alleviate the symptoms. You will have to learn a range of techniques in order to combat depression.
The 'chemical imbalance' treated by antidepressants is almost always a result of depression, not a cause.
Antidepressant medication can be useful for some people in lifting severe depression symptoms quickly, but should not be the sole treatment for depression.
Without appropriate skills training, therapy, or whatever you want to call it, there is no reason why the depression shouldn't come back when a similar life situation arises again.