# How Prevalent Is Depression?

- Link: https://www.alquimedez.com/how-prevalent-is-depression
- Published: 2021-09-13T06:57:21+00:00
- Author: alquimedezhemo

Depression is one of the least commonly talked about disease. Although, according
to research, it has been proven that that depression is amongst the leading causes
of disability worldwide. However, due to the attached stigma that depression is 
a sign of weakness, people avoid talking about mental illnesses, including depression.

**Can Anyone Be Affected By Depression?**
 What people are or aren’t affected by
depression is one of the most discussed issues when depression, its prevalence, 
and its prevention comes under discussion. It is a common assumption that depression
only affects people that are going through a hard time in life. Stress and sadness
are often confused with depression; however, stress and sadness is a state of mind,
and depression is a mental illness that can affect anyone from all walks of life.
From young children to middle-aged to older people – anyone can get affected at 
any age.

A vast majority is also unaware of the fact that similar to specific physical health
issues, issues related to mental health such as depression and anxiety are not always
preventable. However, mental health patients can also live a healthy life if they
are provided with professional mental health treatment. Nonetheless, people hesitate
to talk about depression, which is a significant reason why most depression patients
go undertreated for years.

Commonly signs of depression include loss of interest, anger, willingness of harming
others or yourself, feeling confused, having personality shifts, feeling worried
or scared without a specific reason, becoming anti-social, feeling less energetic,
change in weight or appetite, feeling unclear or difficulty in making decisions 
and sleep issues.

**Prevalence of Depression**
 Although depression is not a newly discovered mental
health illness; nonetheless, people are unaware of the scale that it is affecting
people in the world. The stigmas attached to depression stop us from talking about
depression that has led us to the alarming statistic of people that are suffering
from depression.

According to the latest depression stats, more than 300 million people are suffering
from depression (According to WHO). Only in the U.S., more than 16.2 million adults
that makes 6.7% of the total adult population is suffering from major and seasonal
depression. More than 50% of people that are diagnosed with depression are also 
diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Depression has prevailed to a level that approximately 15% of the adult population
is expected to experience depression at some point during their lifetime. Adults
can experience major depressive episodes between the ages of 18 to 25. These stats
are alarming because parents and guardians often shift their attention from their
children after they have crossed 18; due to this, the symptoms of depression might
go unnoticed. Women are highly likely to experience depressive episodes. According
to stats, 8.5% of women have depression; whereas, depression rate is 4.8% in men.

Depression stats prove that depression is prevailing worldwide, but what makes the
matter more alarming is that although depression is treatable, most depression patients
worldwide do not receive timely and adequate professional treatment.