What does it mean to be demoralized?

I don’t mean demoralization in the sense of simply feeling dejected or depressed (although that can result from being demoralized) but in the felt sense of what sociologists call anomie. How do people become demoralized (de-moralized); how does it effect people’s ability to take charge of their lives; and how does one become re-moralized?

How do you recognize people who are demoralized? Can there be such a thing as structural demoralization? How should we deal with demoralized people?