As common as depression is, the majority of people don’t have a clear idea of what the facts about depression are. Even learning a few facts and statistics about depression can help you understand this condition and the toll it takes a little better. Here are some depression facts that will help you better understand this condition..
2/3 Of Individuals With Depression Don’t Seek Treatment
This fact should be paired up with the fact that depression is a highly treatable condition. Still, 2/3 of individuals with depression do not seek depression treatment. This means that instead of seeking help many people spend their lives suffering when they don’t have to.
80% Of Those Who Receive Treatment Experience Big Improvements
Most of the people with depression who receive treatment for that depression experience substantial improvements and treatments for depression are getting better all the time. There are some depressions that seem resistant to treatment but these are the rare cases. And even those who do not experience the biggest improvements may still feel better with treatment.
Depression Has Estimated Economic Costs Of $30.4 Billion A Year
This is just an interesting estimate. Depression costs people their lives until they seek treatment but it has economic costs too. This is something that often goes unacknowledged.
Women Face Depression Twice As Often As Men
This statistic is a little less reliable. While it has been shown that women face depression twice as much as men, you have to realize that men are less likely to see treatment for depression or to even admit that they are depressed.
Until men manage to overcome what keeps many of them from admitting their depression, truly accurate numbers will prove elusive.
Depression May Soon Be The Second Cause Of “Lost Years Of Healthy Life”
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020 depression will be the second leading cause of what it calls “lost years of healthy life”. This is an alarming statistic given that depression typically responds well to treatment. It’s basically like people dying from a disease that has a cure.
Depression Is Mistaken For Dementia In The Elderly
Here is another troubling and one of the more shocking depression facts. Depression is often mistaken for dementia. Both can have problems with concentration and memory and both can have delusions among their symptoms. This means that sometimes in the elderly the highly treatable condition of depression is thought to be dementia and is not properly treated.
