Depression statistics determining your risk - article about Depression statistics determining your risk

Depression Statistics—Determining Your Risk

Making Sense Of Facts And Figures

Ten percent of the population, which works out to be 19 million Americans, is affected by depression in any given year. The depression statistics regarding males and females indicate that women suffer from depression nearly twice as often as men. More specifically, anywhere from 10% to 25% of women will suffer from depression during their lifetime, while approximately 5% to 12% of men become clinically depressed. Although depression is known to affect people of all races, ages, and incomes, it is three to five times more likely that older people will suffer from depression rather than younger people.

While there are several different types of depression, the most commonly diagnosed form of depression is major depression. Of all the people who suffer from depression, two thirds of them never seek treatment. It is estimated that half of all suicides are comprised of people with untreated depression. However, for the one-third of the population that does seek treatment for depression, 80%-90% feel better within a few weeks. Depression statistics indicate that depression as an economic cost equates to over 30 billion dollars every year.

What’s The Risk?

In addition to depression statistics, looking at the risk factors can also help you to determine what your personal risk for depression is. Scientific research on twins indicates that depression is genetic; thus, if you have a family history of depression, you are more likely to get it at some point during your life. Additionally, a form of depression known as postpartum depression occurs in females who have just given birth, so this may put you at risk as well. Finally, many people suffer from depression after experiencing adverse events in their life. Be on the lookout for signs of depression if this describes your situation.

Perfect Prevention

The only way to prevent depression is to first determine what your risk is, and then figuring out the next step. Depression statistics provide a great basis for determining your risk of suffering from depression.

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