This week is Depression Awareness Week. I am taking this opportunity to share some of the depression statistics that are posted permanently on my blog site. If you have anyone in your life that is struggling with depression or manages it daily with medication or by another means - meditation,therapy,etc, please take a moment to educate yourself about this illness...
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.
The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23%
54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness.
41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help.
80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.
92% of depressed African-American males do not seek treatment.
15% of depressed people will commit suicide.
Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 -- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.
Depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than US$51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.
Depression does NOT have to have the stigma that it has had in the past. YOU can make a difference. I urge you to learn about this disease and open your mind to a different way of thinking.
*All information taken from http://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html
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