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The CDC released statistics today showing that 80% of Americans aged 12 and over have Depression. The rates of depression are higher in women and baby boomers as well as African-Americans.
As a primary health care practitioner, these numbers don’t surprise me. This is something that I see absolutely every day in my practice. And just like the statistics, it is often women who are 40 and over.
While many women do come in to discuss their depression, there is still a significant amount of people that do not seek assistance from their providers. There is still a stigma, even in 2008, but depression means you’re mentally ill. While I had assumed that that myth was put to rest years ago, the study shows that it hasn’t.
Depression isn’t something that you can just pull yourself out of, it isn’t a character flaw, and it doesn’t mean that you’re crazy. It is a biochemical disorder affecting the brain’s neurotransmitters as far as we know it today. It affects almost every aspect of health and well being.
There are many Depression rating scale’s available online – postpartum depression scales, geriatric depression scales, the Hamilton Rating Scale, the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale and others. One can easily search for these scales by entering “depression scale” into your favorite search engine.
Depression is treatable; you just have to see your provider.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Aren’t these statistics a little high???? eighty percent of women are depressed..That would be a sad state of affairs..people walking around gloomy and depressed and maybe suicidal…wow…Can you verify these statistics??carol stanley author of For Kids 59.99 and Over.
Hello Carol,
Yes, I agree, they are high. The study comes out of the CDC. You can find the article on Medscape.
http://tinyurl.com/6lwhlx (link to Medscape article).
Here are the first few paragraphs:
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Center for Health Statistics shows that in any 2-week period, 5.4%,of Americans aged 12 years or older, or more than 1 in 20, are depressed.
Hardest hit are women, non-Hispanic blacks, and those in middle age, between 40 and 59 years of age, where rates were higher than among other demographic groups. Americans living below the poverty level were more likely to be depressed than those with higher incomes; rates in this population were 1 in 7.
“Approximately 80% of people with depression reported that their symptoms interfered with their ability to work, maintain a home, and be socially active,” the authors, Laura A. Pratt, PhD, and Debra J. Brody, both from the National Center of Health Statistics, write in their report. “Reflecting the high rate of functional impairment, almost two-thirds of the estimated $83 billion that depression cost the United States in the year 2000 resulted from lowered productivity and workplace absenteeism.”
Hi Carol,
I don’t know much about statistics, but I know that everyday the news has where a Mother was convicted of abusing their child. We are faced with such violence on TV and as close as the street you live on. It’s no wonder that we are depressed. More and more families are getting divorced later in life, and the economy, “goodness.” How does a person cope?
There is politics, economy and children and our work place, oh yeah and don’t forget menopause.
There is help, but I think that most people don’t realize they need it, they think it will pass, or laugh and say “I think I’m loosing my mind”, well I am hear to tell you, it is No joke. You really are, and that’s why we need help, because it could lead you to drastic measures. Talk with your Dr. or Care giver, let them help, talk to a friend or loved one, depression affects everyone.
So, the statistic is ACTUALLY only a little over 5%, not 80%. That is a great relief. The 80% mentioned seems to be that of that 1 in 20 group, 80% say it is severe enough to interfere with work, home life and social activity. Still scarey figures, but not as bad as first appears.
Can any statistics really be trusted? I for one am a little concerned about how these numbers are changed to meet someone’s agenda. I do not know any women who are depressed or exhibit any signs of depression. I hang out with women all day long. I think more needs to be done to gt accurate data so we are not all scared to death..