Depression Statistics
According to the Centers of Disease control 1 in every 10 Americans suffer from depression based on their findings released April 2012.
The center also found that these people are the most likely to get depressed:
- Women
- Persons aged 18 – 24
- Persons aged 45 – 64
- People of other races
- People who were previously married
- People who can't work or who is unemployed
- People without health insurance
- There are an estimated 121 million people in the world living with some type of depression.
- Americans share 30% - 36% of that count.
- 60% - 80% of depression can be treated with medication and psychotherapy.
- 80% of people are not being treated who have depression.
- The number of people who are diagnosed with depression increases 20% each year.
- People with depression health costs almost double to an average healthy person with the health costs associated with depression at $22,960 and $11,365 for a healthy person.
- 1 in 10 women show some sort of depression after having a baby.
- Depression was reported higher in African Americans and Hispanics at 4%.
- States with higher depression rates have a these common health factors:
-
Obesity
Heart disease
Stroke
Sleep disorders
Lack of education
Lack of medical insurance
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America there are more alarming statistics.
- People who have major depressive disorder are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 – 44.3.
- It can develop at any age but it mostly develops in women more than men.
- The median age for this order is age 32.5.
- For major depression, 3% to 5% of people suffer from it at any time.
- Major depression has a lifetime risk of 17%.
- People who have dysthymic depression (chronic, mild depression) have symptoms that last two years in adults and one year in children.
- This disorder affects 1.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in any given year.
- The median age for this disorder is age 31.1.
According to the American College Health Association: National College Health Assessment there are some statistics:
- In a survey in spring 2012, 46.5% of student felt hopeless.
- They also found that 86.8% of students felt that they were overwhelmed with what they had to do.
- 86.1% felt like they were exhausted.
- 57.3% felt very lonely.
- 61.0% felt very sad.
- 31.3% felt so depressed that they found it difficult to function.
- 7.1% seriously thought about committing suicide.
- 1.2% attempted suicide.
- 5.5% intentionally bruised, burned, cut or physically hurt themselves.
It's important to go to a mental health provider and get the proper care for depression. Sometimes it's so severe that it just can't be 'shaken' off. You have to speak with a psychiatrist in order to get proper medication to treat it. But that's not all you should do. You should combine medicine with talking therapy. That means talking with a therapist. It's something not to be shameful of but necessary in order for your mental well-being.
Benefits to talking with a therapist
- You're talking to someone outside of your situation that can give insight on your life.
- They listen to you to find out your problems and then find solutions to help you.
- They don't judge you.
- You get a chance to look at your problems in a different light.
- It helps you cope better with life.
- They help dealing with difficult life events.
You can find a therapist easily in your area. Here's a great link to help you do a search http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php. This website let you search by area of what therapists are available to you.
There are numerous resources you can go to get help.
- American College Health Association - http://www.acha.org/Topics/mentalhlth.cfm
- National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov
- National Alliance of Mental Illness - http://www.nami.org/
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - http://www.samhsa.gov/
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America - http://www.adaa.org/
- National Suicide Prevention Line – http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- National Mental Health Information Center – http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
You may seem like there is no way out now, but remember there is a way. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone and there are many people suffering alongside with you. Do a simple search online for 'depression discussion forums' and you'll realize that there are people just like you going through the same thing. This is a disease can be defeated. You have to take the steps to recognize the symptoms and get the help you need to get better. Remember this is a way out.