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Depression
Who has it?
The true prevalence of depression in the United States is unknown. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2003, 35 million Americans (more than 16% of the population) suffer from depression severe enough to warrant treatment at some time in their lives. In addition, one out of every four adults experiences depression at some point in life with about 7% of Americans living with depression in a given year. Depression is two to three times as frequent in women as in men; although anyone, including children, can develop depression. According to the World Health Organization
in their 2002 report, depression (including complications of depression) was the fourth leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide in 2000 and will be the second greatest cause of this by the year 2020.
While there is help for depression, nearly two-thirds of depressed people do not seek or receive appropriate treatment.
Authorities estimate that depression costs the nation $43 billion a year for medications, professional care, and time lost from school and work. Of that figure, the direct cost of medication and treatment is estimated at $12 billion. However, these figures do not reflect the toll that depressive illness takes on the lives of family members and loved ones. There is also an economic cost for the premature deaths of individuals whose depression impacts on their health, as well as for deaths by suicide. Each year, tens of thousands of depressed people attempt suicide and, sadly, about 16,000 succeed.
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Who has it?
