Clinical Depression Statistics

Clinical depression statistics do not make for good reading. In fact, the condition appears to be affecting more and more people all over the world with each passing year, irrespective of socioeconomic status, education, race, etc.

In the United States alone, nearly 18.8 million adults suffer from clinical depression every year. Clinical depression includes major depression, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia. Therefore, in any given year, a huge number of the adult population within the age group of 15 and 45 experience clinical depression.

Studies reveal that most of the depressed people come from the industrialized areas of America, and these numbers are increasing with every passing year.

Clinical depression statistics also indicate that the number of women among the affected people is nearly twice that of men.

While depression can set in at any age, the average age is 32. However, as recently as four to five years ago, an increasing number of preschool children seem to be affected by depression, and there is a sharp increase in the number of children suffering from depression every year. The latest reports show that the percentage of increase for depression among children is at 23%, which is shockingly steep. What is also alarming is that antidepressants do not seem to be as effective in helping to tackle depression in children, as compared to depression in the adult population.

Another interesting clinical depression statistic is that only about eight percent of men suffering from depression seek professional help, which means that a large proportion of the male population suffering from depression are not diagnosed or treated.

In addition, depression affects friends and family of depressed people, and this ripple effect creates more stress and tension when afflicted persons refuse to seek professional help. Therefore, it is extremely important for family to recognize the symptoms and get help at the earliest, in order to minimize stress, costs, and tension.

Besides this, from an employer’s point of view, depressed people are not productive and absent themselves from work. In the US alone, the estimated economic loss is around 50 billion USD per year. And the cost of treatment and medication is not even included in this amount.

Despite all the awareness building and knowledge about depression, people still continue to shy away from accepting the condition and getting help. Clinical depression statistics and studies reveal that over 50 percent of people believe that depression is a cause for embarrassment and nearly 40 percent of women refuse to get help.

Therefore, family and friends need to understand the affected person's hesitation or reservations in admitting and accepting the fact that they are suffering from depression. With a lot of encouragement and support from loved ones, patients will learn to seek help and heal themselves.

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