Depression Overview

Depression is a beast!  This “brain injury” can ravage your life.  I know because I have had two experiences of clinical depression. Everyone needs to know the major symptoms of depression so we can help those around us.  As you read through the stats below realize behind the numbers are real people with real pain.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 7% of the US population has experienced a depressive episode.  It is the most common mental health issue in the US.

So what does depression look like?  Listed below are the primary characteristics that the medical community looks for when diagnosing depression.

  1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things

  2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless

  3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much

  4. Feeling tired or having little energy

  5. Poor appetite or overeating

  6. Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure, or have let yourself or your family down

  7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television

  8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite—being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual

  9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way

You can go to an online assessment by following this link, https://www.mdcalc.com/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9.

Ages 18-25 are the most vulnerable to depression. 13% of this age group experienced depression in the past year.

Overall women are about 4% more likely to experience depression than men.  I have often wondered if the rate for men is not actually higher but men are less likely to report experiences of depression.

Of adults with major depressive episode, 64% had severe impairment. This means they had difficulty maintaining their jobs and daily routines.  Depression is a serious illness that can have a devastating impact on one’s life.

35% of the adult population that experienced depression received no treatment.

13.3% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17 had a depressive episode. Of teen with major depressive episode, 64% had severe impairment.  60% of teens, that experienced depression, received no treatment.

Take this data with you into your daily lives and be ready to help those dealing with depression.

Paul Carlisle