Depression Statistics Show You’re Not Alone
As you struggle with depression, it’s easy to feel like you’re alone in the world. You may feel like no one feels the way you do or that no one understands what you’re going through. It’s important to know that you’re not alone, though. Millions of people in the United States and other countries have some type of depression. Looking at the 2023 statistics is one of the best ways to learn who has depression, which treatments work, and how you can recover.
Are All Forms of Depression the Same?
When you think about depression, you likely think of someone who spends a lot of time in bed and seems sad or upset. Not all forms of depression present in the same way. Trouble sleeping, insomnia, a loss of interest in certain things or activities, and appetite changes are all symptoms of major depression, which lasts for two weeks or longer.
These aren’t the only symptoms either. Someone with depression may feel irritable or angry for no reason and react badly to others. Impulsive behavior is another symptom, along with frequent use of alcohol or drugs, spending less time with their loved ones, a loss of interest in sexual pleasure, and feeling restless.
Other Types of Depression
Persistent depressive disorder is one of the other types of depression experienced by clients today. Though it presents with some of the same symptoms as major depression, it can last for several years or longer. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 3% of adult Americans experience this form of depression at some point in their lives. The Cleveland Clinic also found that it’s more common among people with a family history of depression as well as women.
Another type is psychotic depression or depression with psychosis. It presents with some of the common symptoms, along with delusions or hallucinations. Other symptoms to look for include suicidal thoughts or actions, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and problems making decisions. While delusions refer to strange or unusual thoughts and beliefs, hallucinations refer to hearing and seeing things. For example, clients might think that someone is out to get them or is stalking them, which is a delusion. When they see someone who isn’t there, they are suffering from a hallucination.
Psychotic depression is not as common as some of the other types. One study looked at more than 1,000 Chinese women aged 18 or older with depression. It found that 10.97% suffered from psychotic symptoms. This study also found a correlation between psychotic symptoms and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Women with higher levels of these hormones were more likely to experience psychotic symptoms while depressed.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) started as a type of depression and now has become a separate diagnosis. Clients with SAD usually develop symptoms in the late fall. These symptoms begin going away near the beginning of spring. The common symptoms of SAD include:
- Feeling run-down or tired during the day
- Sleeping more than you did before
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Craving carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain
- Noticing a loss of energy
Some professionals refer to this disorder by the season when it occurs, such as winter depression or summer depression. It can happen during the long winters because you generally spend more time inside and receive less exposure to sunlight. Light therapy is a common treatment during which you use a special light during the day. Seasonal depression can also happen due to a lack of serotonin or melatonin. Many dangers go along with the condition as it may cause you to pull away from your loved ones and feel like you can’t leave the house.
Prenatal and Postnatal Depression
Both pregnant women and women who have given birth can experience other forms of depression. Prenatal depression occurs before giving birth. Certain risk factors can increase the chance of a woman developing this type. Women who are pregnant with multiple babies, those who lack adequate support, women having an unplanned pregnancy, and those who have issues conceiving are more likely to develop prenatal depression. As many as 24.1% of pregnant women have prenatal depression, and it’s more common in developed nations.
Postnatal or postpartum depression occurs after giving birth. Though the condition includes some of the signs of major depression, it can also include more intrusive thoughts and fears. For example, the woman may feel she’s in danger of either hurting herself or hurting her baby. She can also feel a lack of connection to her child and even worry she brought home the wrong baby. Baby blues are common among women and last for a few days or weeks. Postpartum depression lasts for months. The National Library of Medicine found that one out of every seven women experience some form of postpartum depression. It usually requires counseling, as it will not resolve on its own.
Who Experiences Depression?
The median onset age for depression is 32.5 years, but do not assume this means it only affects adults. It is nearly as common among teenagers as it is among adults. Many youths report that their depression causes them problems both at home and school. According to one study, more than 11% of American youths have major depression, and more than 16% have experienced major depression in the last 12 months. This goes along with the roughly 10% who have problems functioning.
Some of the troubles they have include:
- Issues falling asleep and getting enough sleep
- An inability to get up on time and get ready for school
- Trouble connecting with their friends and peers
- A lack of interest in doing their schoolwork
- Loss of interest in school clubs and other activities
When it comes to adults, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 6% of women and 4% of men have some type of depression, which equates to 3.8% of the total population in the United States. Out of the total number of adults with depression, 5.7% are elderly people who are 60 or older. The WHO points out that depression affects women 50% more than men and that over 700,000 people with depression commit suicide annually. This makes suicide one of the four leading causes of death among those between the ages of 15 and 29.
If you worry about a loved one who struggles with depression, you can and should look for the signs that they may make a suicide attempt. While not everyone who has depression commits suicide, thoughts of doing so are quite common. The illness makes them feel like they’re worthless and that they have no hope or reason to continue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that suicide increased through 2022 by 2.6% but decreased among young people.
Someone may show some signs before they take this step, including:
- They talk about feeling guilty or angry.
- The individual begins using drugs or alcohol more often.
- They give away things that were once important to them.
- You notice that they aren’t making any plans.
- They make unusual comments that sound like they’re saying goodbye.
If you believe that someone you love may attempt to take this life or you have similar feelings, don’t despair. You can call The National Depression Hotline to reach a caring voice that will help you get through your feelings.
Causes of Depression
While you can spend a lot of time looking at depression statistics, you may also want to look at what causes it. Doctors do not take a one-size-fits-all approach to treating clients because they know that everyone responds differently. Their responses may correlate to what caused the depression, too. There are some common causes you can consider, though.
- Major or traumatic loss: Many people develop depression as a reaction to a major loss, such as losing a parent or a pet. The loss can include the end of a relationship, too.
- Genetics: Genetics plays a key role in depression. If you have one or more family members with depression, you have an increased risk of developing it.
- Age: Depression is common among older and younger people because of the major changes they go through. Older people may lose their spouses and friends.
- Major lifestyle changes: Going through major lifestyle changes can increase your chances of suffering from depression. Those changes include losing your job, going through a divorce, getting married, or moving to a new town.
Depression and Other Medical Conditions
In addition to the causes above, depression can also go along with other medical conditions, serving as a side effect of the disease or the medication you take. The DSM-5 even lists an official diagnosis of Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition. This manual claims it can go along with many different diseases, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. Some of your symptoms can also relate to the medications your doctor prescribes, which is why it’s important to talk to them about any side effects you experience.
Substance Abuse and Depression
Researchers also found a link between substance abuse and depression. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, those diagnosed with mental illness are more likely to smoke as well as experiment with drugs and alcohol. They have up to a 69% increased risk of using cocaine, too. Mood disorders, like depression, increase these amounts even more. Up to 30% of people with major depression also abuse one or more substances. Some other key facts to know include:
- Nearly 400,000 adolescents have depression and substance use disorder.
- More than 31% of adolescents with a mood disorder use illicit drugs, compared to just 14.4% of their peers.
- A little more than 4% of adolescents with mood disorders also use opioids, like heroin.
- 9.5 million adults have a comorbid condition that includes a mood disorder, like depression and substance use disorder.
- Adults with depression are more likely to abuse substances, such as opioids, heroin, and alcohol.
- Nearly 50% of adults with a serious mental disorder, like depression, used illicit drugs in the last year, compared to the 38.8% of the general public who use the same substances.
Other Noteworthy Depression Statistics
If you need to know more about depression, look through some of these other sobering statistics from 2023 and recent years:
- According to the Gallup Panel, 36.7% of women and 20.4% of men suffered from depression in their lives. The number of men struggling with depression increased by nearly double in the last poll. Depression rates are now higher among those aged 18 to 29 and 30 to 44 now compared to older groups.
- A survey from August 2023 that looked at young people discovered that 22% of respondents experienced depression within the prior two weeks. The study began during the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that the rate of depression increased since the pandemic started.
- The CDC reported in 2023 that 4.7% of adult Americans had depressed feelings regularly.
- According to the SAMSHA, the number of people with major depressive disorder with severe impairment is on the rise. Among those 18 and older, 64.8% received treatment. This figure does not include people with depression who did not seek help. The same report noted that only 52.5% of African Americans sought treatment for depression compared to the 68.6% of white Americans who received treatment.
- Mental Health America looked at young people struggling with depression. The MHA discovered that roughly 2.7 million young people have symptoms associated with major depression. Those who are biracial have a higher risk of developing depression than others. According to MHA, young people are also less likely to seek help or talk to someone. The state with the highest rate of untreated depressed young people is South Carolina.
- The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reported that 13.9% of women struggle with post-partum depression, which is an increase from 2021. Rates were highest among Asians and Pacific Islanders.
- A study from 2023 looked at the mental health issues of those in the military and veterans. Between 14% and 16% suffer from depression or PTSD. The research indicated that 9% of all medical appointments made in the military network were for clients with depression.
What the Statistics Mean
Looking over these statistics helps you see that you or someone you know who struggles with depression isn’t alone. People of all ages and genders can develop major depression or another form of the disorder, which increases their risks of using substances or attempting suicide.
If you suffer from depression, call our National Depression Hotline. We are available 24/7 to provide resources or simply to listen. Call today!
