Depression

An estimated 15 million American suffer from depression. Over 60% of all people who die by suicide suffer from major depression. If one includes alcoholics who are depressed, this figure rises to over 75%.

More Americans suffer from depression than coronary heart disease (7 million), cancer (6 million), and AIDS (200,000).

Although most depressed people are not suicidal, most people who commit suicide (2/3) suffer from a depressive illness.

About 15% of the population will suffer from unipolar depression at some time during their life. Thirty percent of all depressed patients attempt suicide, ½ of them succeed.

Women suffer from depression twice as much as men.

Less than ½ of all Americans consider depression to be a health problem and more than two in five believe it is a sign of personal weakness.

Depression in people 65 and older increases the risk of stroke and other medical complications.

Researchers believe that after an initial attack of sever depression. Seventy percent of people are vulnerable to another episode.

Research has shown that 7 out of 10 patients will improve with the help of psychotherapy and new and improved forms of drug treatment.

Know the warning signs:

•   depressed mood
•   change in eating and sleeping patterns
•   loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
•   decrease in sexual drive
•   fatigue or loss of energy
•   feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, or guilt
•   diminished ability to think or concentrate, slowed thinking or indecisiveness
•   thoughts of death, suicide, or wishes to be death

Additional factors that increase risk of suicide in depressed individuals:

•   anxiety, agitation, or enraged behavior
•   isolation
•   drug and/or alcohol use or abuse
•   history of physical or emotional illness
•   feelings of hopelessness or desperation

Over 60% of all people who die by suicide suffer from major depression. If one includes alcoholics who are depressed, this figure rises to over 75%.

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More Americans suffer from depression than coronary heart disease (7 million), cancer (6 million), and AIDS (200,000).

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Depression affects nearly 10 percent of Americans ages 18 and over in a given year, or more than 19 million people in 1998.

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About 15% of the population will suffer from clinical depression at some time during their lifetime. Thirty percent of all clinically depressed inpatients attempt suicide.

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Depression is among the most treatable of psychiatric illnesses. Some estimates suggest that between 80% and 90% of people with depression respond positively to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms. But first, depression has to be recognized.

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