Depression Statistics

Most of the depression statistics provided here are United States statistics.

Statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) indicate that, in the year 2000, there were around 8 suicides per 100,000 teens, and for every suicide there were ten attempted suicides by teenagers.

Statistics also reveal that suicides are one of the three major causes of death among teens, and that nearly all suicides and attempted suicides in teens result from major depression.

Data compiled indicates that teenage girls are at higher risk of attempting suicide as a result of depression as compared to teen boys; the risk is five times more in girls. More than 50% of suicides are committed by teens shooting themselves.

Other statistical information regarding depression include reports suggesting nearly 18.8 million American adults who are above the age of 18 suffer from depression in any given year. The types of depression experienced by adult Americans include major depression, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia.

There has been an alarming increase in the rate of depression experienced by children, and the current figure is about 23% per annum.

Also, in developed countries, nearly 15% of the population suffer from major depression, of which 30% are women. Reports on depression statistics further indicate that nearly 41% of women suffering from depression are too embarrassed to seek professional help.

Another alarming 80% of people suffering from depression are not undergoing any treatment for depression, and 92% of African-Americans (suffering from depression) also do not undergo any treatment for depression.

It is frequently suggested that a total of 15% of people suffering from depression end up committing suicide. That particular depression statistic has, however, been debunked as a myth. A Mayo Clinic study published in Dec 2000 in the American Journal of Psychiatry analyzed 100 suicide studies which had been carried out over the previous 3 decades and concluded that a more reasonable suicide rate was 2% to 9%. “A 15 percent suicide rate means that of six patients diagnosed with depression, one will commit suicide during his or her lifetime. That's simply not true,” said John Michael Bostwick, MD, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic who led the said study.

More recent depression statistics and data produced by the National Health and Nutrition Examination for the year 2005-2006 indicate that during any two-week timeframe, nearly 5.4% of Americans who are above the age of 12 experience depression. There was a further increase in rate among women between 40 and 59 years old, especially in non-Hispanic black people, as compared to people with other demographic profiles. Also, there was a significant rise in depression among people in the lower socio-economic groups.

Studies and surveys conducted reveal that depression contributes to major absenteeism among employees and decreased productivity, with losses amounting to USD 51 billion every year. Losses calculated do not even include medical bills.

To conclude, by the year 2020, depression will be the second biggest killer disease, the first one being cardiac disease.

These are grim depression statistics, indeed. But depression help is at hand, and recovery is definitely possible.

Useful Depression Resources