DEPRESSION STATISTICS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

Depression affects people from all walks of life, no matter what their background. It can affect
people of all ages as well. Understanding the latest depression statistics could increase awareness
about mental health. Recognizing how widespread it is could also help reduce the stigma—which
might encourage more people to seek treatment.

Demographics

Depression can begin at any age and it can affect people of all races and across all
socioeconomic statuses. Here are some of the statistics on the demographics of people with
depression:

 The median age of depression onset is 32.5 years old.

 The prevalence of adults with a major depressive episode is highest among individuals
between 18 and 25.
 11.3% of adults who report two or more races have experienced a major depressive
episode in the past year
 8.7% of women have depression
 5.3% of men have depression

A survey conducted by the CDC found that the prevalence of depression decreases among adults
as family income levels increase. While they don't speculate as to the cause, it may be that
increased income results in less money-related stress and improved access to mental health
services. The survey also revealed that prevalence rates among men and women have been fairly
consistent over the last decade.

Research has shown that women experience depression at roughly twice the same rate as men.
While the exact causes of this gender disparity are unclear, this increased prevalence in women is
often linked to factors such as hormones, life circumstances, and stress.

Prevalence of Depression

While anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., depression isn’t far
behind. The most recent depression statistics are:

 As of 2017, 300 million people around the world have depression, according to the World
Health Organization
 According to data from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 17.3 million
adults in the United States—equaling 7.1% of all adults in the country—have
experienced a major depressive episode in the past year
 Nearly 50% of all people diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety
disorder
It’s estimated that 15% of the adult population will experience depression at some point in their
lifetime.

Postpartum Depression

It’s common for women to experience stress, sadness, loneliness, and exhaustion after giving
birth. But some women experience postpartum depression that makes it difficult for them to care
for themselves or their babies after giving birth. Here are the statistics on postpartum depression:

 One in seven women experiences postpartum depression.

 Half of all women diagnosed with postpartum depression have never had an episode of
depression before.
 About half of all women who are eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression began
experiencing symptoms during pregnancy.

Suicide and Self-Harm

Untreated depression increases an individual’s risk of suicide. Here are the latest statistics on
suicide:

 Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

 It’s the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-34.
 Over 47,000 Americans die by suicide each year
 40% of all persons who complete suicide have made at least one previous attempt.
 Individuals with substance abuse disorders are six times more likely to complete suicide
than people who don’t have drug or alcohol problems.2
 Eight out of 10 people considering suicide give some signs of their intentions.
 Females attempt suicide more than twice as often as males.
 Males are four times as likely to die by suicide.
 Firearms account for 51% of all suicide deaths
 492,037 individuals visited hospitals in the United States due to self-harm in 2017

When Depression Is Life-Threatening

Depression in Children and Adolescents

Depression can begin during childhood or during the teenage years. Similar to the prevalence
rates in adults, girls are more likely to experience depression than boys. There’s a sharp increase
in depression in girls just after puberty.

Although there has been a rise in teenage depression, according to a 2016 American Academy of
Pediatrics study, there has not been a corresponding increase in treatment for teenagers.3
The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends regular depression screening for all
adolescents 12 and over, given that the symptoms of depression are often missed by adults such
as parents, teachers and even doctors.

Here are the most recent depression statistics in children and adolescents:

 3.1 million young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have experienced at least one
major depressive episode in the past year in the United States
 2 to 3% of children ages 6 to 12 may have serious depression
 20% of adolescent girls have experienced a major depressive episode
 6.8% of adolescent boys have experienced a major depressive episode
 71% of adolescents who experienced a major depressive episode in the past
year, experienced a severe impairment
 60% of children and adolescents with depression are not getting any type of treatment
 19% of children with depression saw a health care professional for treatment
 2% of children with depression were treated with medication alone

What You Should Know About Childhood Depression

Economic Impact

Depression takes an economic toll on individuals, families, organizations, and society as a

whole. It can lead to reduced educational attainment, lower earning potential, and higher rates of
unemployment:4

 Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

 The total economic burden of depression is estimated to be $210.5 billion per year.
 48 to 50% of the economic costs are attributed to absences from work as well as
decreased productivity caused by depression
 45 to 47% of the costs are due to medical expenses, such as outpatient and inpatient
treatment or the costs of medication

Treatment Effectiveness

Depression is very treatable. But, only about half of all Americans who are diagnosed with
depression in a given year get treatment. Those who do seek treatment wait months or years to
get help.

Many individuals with depression who seek treatment are under-treated. Studies consistently
show a combination of talk therapy and medication can be most effective in treating depression.

Here are the latest statistics on depression treatment:

 Only 1 in 5 people receive treatment consistent with current practice guidelines.

 6% of people with depression are treated with medication only.
 35% of adults with depression receive no treatment at all.

Sources: https://www.verywellmind.com/depression-statistics-everyone-should-know-
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