Tommy -
I'm with Kelkel on this one... I had major depression prior to ever picking up a drink; the drinking just made an existing mental health issue much worse. I am seeing a therapist and a doctor for my depression and I am finally going to give AA a shot at helping me with my alcoholism. I think both things need to be treated separately, but simultaneously, if that makes any sense. I do think that ceasing drinking has a natural uplifting effect, but I don't think that sobering up will completely clear up depression, if you have it in the clinical sense.
Thanks for bringing up an interesting topic!
all the best,
anne