Everything You Need to Know About Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)

Why One Should Know About Depression

Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. It can also interfere with daily functioning, relationships, work, and physical health. Depression can lead to suicide, which is one of the leading causes of death among young people.

Knowing about depression can help you to:

- Recognize the signs and symptoms of depression in yourself or others

- Seek professional help and treatment if you or someone you care about is struggling with depression

- Support yourself or others who are living with depression

- Reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with depression

- Promote mental health awareness and prevention

Facts and Statistics About Depression

Here are some facts and statistics about depression that you should know:

- Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, an estimated 5% of adults suffer from depression. More women are affected by depression than men.

- Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, culture, or background. However, some people may be more vulnerable to depression due to factors such as genetics, life events, stress, trauma, chronic illness, or substance use.

- Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It affects around 264 million people globally and about 17.3 million adults in the United States.

- Depression costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars each year. The cost of major depressive disorder shows up in many ways, such as workplace costs, health care costs, and suicide costs.

- Depression can be treated effectively with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. However, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment for mental disorders. Barriers to effective care include lack of investment in mental health care, lack of trained health-care providers, and social stigma associated with mental disorders.

- Depression can have different types and subtypes, such as major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, depressive psychosis, atypical depression, and adjustment disorder. Each type of depression may have different causes, symptoms, patterns, and treatments.

How to Learn More About Depression

If you want to learn more about depression, you can:

- Visit reputable websites that provide information and resources on depression, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), or Psych Central.

- Read books or articles that share personal stories or scientific insights on depression, such as "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression" by Andrew Solomon, "Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions" by Johann Hari, or "The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression" by Alex Korb.

- Watch documentaries or videos that explore the topic of depression from different perspectives, such as "The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive" by Stephen Fry, "Depression: Out of the Shadows" by PBS, or "The Science of Depression" by AsapSCIENCE.

- Listen to podcasts or audio programs that discuss depression and mental health issues, such as "The Hilarious World of Depression" by John Moe, "The Happiness Lab" by Dr. Laurie Santos, or "Mental Illness Happy Hour" by Paul Gilmartin.

- Join online or offline support groups or communities that offer peer support and guidance for people with depression or their loved ones, such as Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), or 7 Cups.

Conclusion

Depression is a serious but treatable condition that affects many people around the world. Knowing about depression can help you to understand yourself or others better, seek help when needed,

and contribute to a more compassionate and supportive society. Remember that you are not alone in your journey with depression. There is hope and help available for you.

Source: 

(1) Depressive disorder (depression) - World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression.

(2) Depression: 20 Facts and Statistics | Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/depression/depression-facts.

(3) Depression Facts and Statistics – Bridges to Recovery. https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/depression/depression-facts-and-statistics/.

(4) Depression Statistics Everyone Should Know - Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/depression-statistics-everyone-should-know-4159056.