This content has been updated from the previous article on September 1, 2022.
As we head towards the last month of 2023, coinciding with 3 years post-COVID-19 pandemic, it may be surprising to some that the impact of the pandemic still remains.
In 2023, based on a study released by Gallup, we found Depression rates reached an all-time high. The proportion of adults in the United States acknowledging a lifetime diagnosis of Depression has surged to 29.0%, marking a substantial increase of almost 10 percentage points from the statistics recorded in 2015.
Concurrently, the percentage of Americans presently diagnosed with or undergoing treatment for Depression has risen to 17.8%, reflecting a notable seven-point uptick over the corresponding period.
These figures represent the highest rates documented by Gallup since the inception of Depression measurement through the current data collection method in 2015.
It may be surprising to some given the media coverage on the rise in men’s mental health issues, but Gallup’s study found that more than a third of women (36.7%) reported receiving a Depression diagnosis at some point in their lives, in contrast to 20.4% of men.
The rate of diagnosis among women has increased at almost double the pace of men since 2017. Within specific age groups, those between 18 to 29 (34.3%) and 30 to 44 (34.9%) exhibit notably higher lifetime Depression rates than individuals over the age of 44.
Current Depression or treatment for Depression is most prevalent among women (23.8%) and adults aged 18 to 29 (24.6%). These groups have experienced the most substantial increases in rates since 2017, with a 6.2% rise for women and an 11.6% surge for the younger age bracket. Additionally, adults aged 30 to 44 have shown accelerated rates compared to 2017 estimates.
Lifetime Depression rates are escalating swiftly among Black and Hispanic adults, surpassing those of White respondents. This marks a departure from historical trends where White adults typically reported slightly higher rates of both lifetime and current Depression.
In the United States, Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions and affects more than 21 million adults in the country each year. Depression results from a combination of social, psychological, and biological factors. People who experience more adverse life events like violent events, the death of a loved one, professional or personal setbacks are more likely to develop it.
Depression can lead to suicide and sadly is often undiagnosed, with only half of those from Depression getting mental health care. So, chances are that you or someone close to you has experienced Depression, and its most common symptoms may be well known to you: feeling sad, the loss of energy, weight loss or gain, and disruptive sleep are all closely associated with Depression.
But for some of those 21 million people, Depression can take many forms. Below are just five of the signs of more severe forms of Depression you may not know. If you or someone you love has any signs of Depression, don’t wait to get help. Depression is a serious, sometimes fatal disorder.
For serious cases, it may require a long-term treatment program and our compassionate mental health care providers are here to help through in-person or online appointments.