Adults over the age of 25 are far more prone to depression than those between 12 and 25. According to statistics, approximately 7% of people are clinically diagnosed with depression; however, this rate is nearly double among persons aged 12-25.

See where depression manifests itself by age and cause.

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is one of the most frequent mental conditions worldwide.

Many different causes may contribute to a person’s depressive state, and it is frequently an underlying diagnosis with additional medical problems and mental issues.

Key Depression Statistics

• Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, affecting more than 16.1 million American adults, or about 6.7% of the U.S. population age 18 and older, in a given year.
• Depression affects both sexes, but is more common among women. Approximately 12% of men and the lifetime prevalence rate of depression for women is approximately 21%.
• Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for adults ages 15-44.
• Major depressive disorder costs the U.S. $210.5 billion each year in direct and indirect costs.
• According to the World Health Organization, depression is the single largest contributor to disability worldwide

What is depression?

The most common symptoms of major depression include a severe and continuous feeling of sadness or a sense of hopelessness.

A major depressive episode is a time when someone has significant depression symptoms.

A major depressive episode is defined as having a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and problems with sleeping, eating, energy, attention, or self-worth for two weeks or longer.

“Unexpected losses or changes may exacerbate pre-existing symptoms of sadness or anxiety,” Yes Yoon, PhD, a psychologist in New York, points out.

A depressive episode can be precipitated by the death of a loved one, a breakup, job loss, financial strain, medical problems, and substance use disorder, among other factors.

Depression, according to Yoon, affects people in numerous aspects of their lives. People’s sleep, appetite, attention, mood, energy level, physical health, and social lives can all be affected significantly by the symptoms of depression. Many individuals who are depressed will report having difficulties getting out of bed, having little to no ambition or energy to do the activities they usually enjoy, and feeling irritated or downhearted.

All of these things make leading an everyday life considerably more difficult.

Depression Statistics in Children

Depression is not just an adult phenomenon.

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 3.2% of 13-18 year olds in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2016.
• That means that out of every 31 children, one will experience depression.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3.2 % of children aged 3–17 years have depression.
• Children who are depressed can also be afflicted with a variety of other mental illnesses. According to the CDC, 73.8 % of children aged three to seventeen who had depression also had anxiety, whereas 47.2 % had behavioural issues.

Depression Statistics in Adults

In 2021, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) determined that:

• Around 7.1% of adult citizens in the United States had experienced at least one major depressive episode within a year.
• Among the respondents to the survey, 13.1% were aged 18–25 years, indicating that this age group was most prone to depression.
• The National Survey on Drug Use and Health discovered that 11.3 % of respondents with mixed ethnic backgrounds had at least one major depressive episode in 2021, which was higher than those of other races who responded to the survey (11.0%).

Depression Statistics in Males

• According to the 2021 NSDUH research, 5.3% of male respondents had experienced at least one major depressive episode.
• In addition, a study from 2015 found that 3.5%Trusted Source of adult American males had daily feelings of sadness and didn’t get treated for their problems in 2020–2021.

Depression Statistics in Females

It’s also worth noting that environmental factorsTrusted Source, such As socioeconomic disadvantage and gender-based violence, can impact female depression.

• According to the NSDUH poll from 2020, 8.7 % of female respondents had experienced at least one major depressive episode due to their relationship with cats.
• According to research, females are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than males. Female hormone changes may cause depression, but further studies are needed to verify this.
• Following pregnancy, females are also vulnerable to depression, with 1 in 9 of those interviewed by Trusted Source suffering from postpartum depression.

How common is depression?

The frequency of depression is hard for some people who have never experienced it before, or even after experiencing one episode. The good news though-you don’t need a chronic case because there are many options available that will help treat this illness effectively so long as you take them regularly!

• Depression affects nearly 264 million people in the world.
• Depression is the world’s most common cause of disability.
• The most common neuropsychiatric condition in the United States is major depressive disorder, affecting approximately 14.8 million people.

Depression statistics in America

• 7.1 % of the U.S. population, or 17.3 million people (7.1% of the adult population), have had at least one major depressive episode.
• 63.8% of adults and 70.77% of teenagers had significant disability among those with major depressive episodes.
• Women are twice as likely to be depressed as males.
• Adolescents (16.9 %) and adults (11.3 %) of two or more races were most likely to be affected by severe depression episodes.

Depression statistics by age

• The proportion of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who had a major depressive episode was the highest (14.4%), followed by 18 to 25 years old (13.8%).
• The lowest rate of major depressive episodes was seen in people aged 50 and older (4.5 %).
• 11.5 million people had a severe depressive episode with substantial disability in the previous year, according to CDC data as of December 2018.
• From 2013 to 2018, the %age of college students suffering from severe depression increased from 9.4% to 21.1%.
• From 2007 to 2018, the proportion of children who experienced moderate to severe depression increased from 23.2% to 41.1%.

Postpartum depression statistics

Postpartum depression is a type of sadness that strikes a mother who has just given birth. It usually happens within three months to a year after childbirth, owing to hormonal fluctuations, changes in routine, and parenthood fatigue.

• After childbirth, about 70% to 80% of women will experience the “baby blues,” characterized by unpleasant emotions or mood swings.
• Clinical postpartum depression affects up to 20% of new moms. (Arizona Behavioral Health Associates, P.C., Flagstaff Psychologists & Counselors)
• 1 in 7 women may experience PPD within a year of giving birth.
• When fathers had partners who had postpartum depression, the rate of paternal depression ranged from 24% to 50%.
• Women who have previously experienced depression, anxiety disorders, or severe mood problems are 30% to 35% more likely to get postpartum depression.

Holiday depression statistics

Although November and December are generally considered happy, this is not always the case. Some individuals develop depressive symptoms during these times.

• According to the American Psychological Association, stress levels increase by 38 % during the holiday season for many people.
• 64 % of individuals with a mental disorder say holidays exacerbate their symptoms.
• More than two-thirds of those who reported being sad or dissatisfied during the holidays said they were financially stressed and/or lonely.

Suicide and depression 

• According to studies, two-thirds of those who kill themselves have depressive problems.
• 1% of women and 7% of men diagnosed with depression kill themselves.
• Compared to persons without major depression, those diagnosed with major depression have a 20 times higher chance of committing suicide.
• Fifteen to 19-year-olds are more likely than any other age group to take their own life.
• From 2013 to 2018, the number of college students attempting suicide rose from 0.7% to 1.8%.

The National Network of Depression Disorders provides a wealth of information for people who are depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Major depressive disorder

People frequently use “depression” to describe severe or clinical depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health’s Trusted Source, 19.4 million adults in the United States, or 7.8% of all people living in the country, experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2020.

The frequency of episodes of major depression was greater among:

• Women (9.6 %, compared to 6 % of men) have a higher risk of diabetes than men.
• The %age of people who get a tattoo between 18 and 25 is 15.2 %.
• Almost a fifth, or 16.1 %, of Americans, identified themselves as being of two or more races or ethnicities in the spring of 2020 (13.7%).

Persistent depressive disorder

Dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder or chronic depression, is a form of long-term depression that lasts two years or more. It generally includes milder mood symptoms such as sadness and despair and other symptoms of depression.

Although the symptoms of persistent sadness are usually less severe, they can still cause a lot of anguish. According to estimates, 3%Trusted Source of individuals in the United States may have this form of depression.

Bipolar disorder

Many people who live with bipolar disorder will experience a bout of depression, but it doesn’t mean everyone will:

• Bipolar I is characterized by manic episodes that may or may not be accompanied by depressive symptoms.
• The second type, classified as “bipolar II,” features depressed periods and hypomania.

According to a 2015 study of 25 population and community-based studies, around 1 % of people will develop bipolar I at some time in their life.

• The lifetime prevalence of bipolar I was 1.06 %, and 0.71 % of people had it in a particular year.
• According to the latest figures, the lifetime prevalence of bipolar II was 1.57 %, and 0.50 % of individuals had the condition in a given year.

Seasonal depression

Seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression, is characterized by mood changes that correspond to the seasons. This form of pessimism begins in fall and continues through winter for many people, although it can also be seen during spring and summer.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, affects approximately 5 % of Americans and is characterized by depressive symptoms that generally last for about 40% of the year.

Seasonal sadness typically affects:

• Women
• Young adults
• People living at higher altitudes

According to 2021 research, seasonal depression symptoms reappear for about 70% of persons with the illness.

Psychotic depression

The term “depressive psychosis” refers to a type of depressive episode that includes hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia.

In comparison to research on other types of depression, investigation of depressive symptoms with psychotic features is still limited. Some experts think this subtype is more prevalent than previously believed.

According to 2021 research, persons with depressive symptoms that include psychotic features will be affected:

• Every month, around 4 people out of every 1,000 adults develop an anxiety disorder.
• Between the ages of 60 and 99, there are between 14 and 30 people over 60.

Symptoms of psychosis can emerge during an episode of depression, according to the same review:

• Between 10 and 19% of persons in community samples are affected.
• Inpatient hospitalization rates range from 7 % to 75 % of all adults.
• Among older persons who did not receive any pharmaceutical-only care, the proportion receiving inpatient treatment was 36% to 54%.

Prevalence of depression

Depression is common.

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 280 million people suffer from depression, including 5% of the world’s adults and 5.7% of those over 60 years old.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that 19.4 million Americans experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2019, representing 7.8% of the population. However, because many persons suffering from depression do not receive treatment for their symptoms, the actual number of people affected by this disease may be more significant:

• In 2021, research showed that approximately 60% of persons with depression do not seek professional help. In part, this is due to the stigma of depression.
• According to the World Health Organization, over 75 % of people living in low-income or middle-income countries never receive treatment for depression due to treatment barriers.

Causes and risk factors for depression

According to some experts, depression stems from various causes, including brain chemistry, hormones, and genetics. To put it another way, there is no single reason for depression.

Other risk factors for depression include:

• Childhood trauma or abuse. A 2015 research from Trusted Source found that of 349 individuals with chronic depression, 75.6 % had experienced childhood trauma.
• Depression is sometimes accompanied by anxiety or other mental health issues. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder have all been connected to depressive symptoms.
• Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or chronic pain. According to an estimated trusted Source, between 9.3 and 25 % of individuals living with persistent illnesses like diabetes or chronic pain also suffer from depression.
• Substance use disorders are another common cause of depression. People with a substance use disorder have been shown to experience depression in approximately 12 to 80 % of cases.
• A family history of depression. According to the latest edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” individuals with a family history are 2 to 4 times as likely to become depressed.

Diagnosing depression

A depressive disorder is usually confirmed with the following symptoms:

• experiencing five of the nine primary symptoms of depression
• symptoms that endure for two weeks or more
• Symptoms that have an impact on your daily life and activities

If you or someone you know suffers from depression, a mental health professional should be contacted. Symptoms that do not precisely match the criteria listed above might suggest subtypes of depression, so it’s always a good idea to reach out.

Tell them everything, even those symptoms that don’t appear to be linked, since a thorough description of your problems might assist them in making an adequate diagnosis.

Treating depression

Therapy, prescription medication, or a combination of the two are used to treat depression. “Other therapeutic techniques that have been found to help reduce the symptoms of depression include light therapy, vitamins and supplements, regular exercise, mindfulness-based meditation, and other creative performing arts therapies,” according to Yoon.

• Adults aged 50 or older had the highest treatment rate for depression (78.9 %) of those with a major depressive episode.
• Adolescents aged 12 to 17 had the lowest treatment rate (41.4%).
• More than 25 million adults in the United States have been taking antidepressants for at least two years, a 60 % jump since 2010.
• Women are twice as likely to use antidepressants as men.

Depression research

• SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), established a baseline of substance use and mental health issues in the United States.
• Depression, World Health Organization (WHO)
• Mental health conditions are the most common in each of the top ten U.S. disease/disorder categories, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Major depression, NIMH
• Depression Prevalence Among Adults 20 Years and Older, CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
• Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment for the Blue Baby Blues – American Pregnancy Association
• Arizona Psychological Services and Arizona Center for Marriage & Family Therapy are two postpartum mood disorders services in Flagstaff.
• Thoughts of self-harm and postpartum women with screen-positive depression symptoms who were diagnosed with DSM-5 major depressive disorder
• Paternal postpartum depression, its connection to maternal postpartum depression, and the implications for family health in nursing are discussed in this paper.
• Johns Hopkins Medicine genetic variables that predict postpartum depression
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has compiled a list of helpful hints for dealing with the holiday blues.
• The American Psychological Association’s definition of holiday stress
• The American Association of Suicidology has some interesting facts about suicide and depression.
• The leading reasons for death in 2017, according to the CDC.
• Trends in mood and anxiety symptoms, as well as suicide-related outcomes, among U.S. undergraduate students
• Many people who are taking antidepressants discover that they can’t quit.
• According to a recent survey, the number of people using antidepressants has increased in the United States.

Conclusion 

Depression Statistics 2022 paints a bleak picture for those affected by depression. However, there is hope. Many people can manage their depression and live fulfilling lives with early diagnosis and treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please seek help. There are many resources available, both online and in person. The most important thing is to get started on the road to recovery. Thank you for reading our blog post on Depression Statistics 2022.

Sources

• Mental health
• Healthy People 2030
• National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
• National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
• National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)
• National Survey on Drug Use and Health

 

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