May 17, 2023 – Depression rates amongst U.S. adults have reached their highest level ever recorded since Gallup, the national polling firm, began tracking the mental illness in 2015.
In one survey, 29% of adults said they'd been diagnosed with depression of their lifetime, and 18% said they currently had depression or were receiving treatment for it. These numbers are higher than baseline figures from 2015, when 20% of individuals had ever suffered from depression and 11% of individuals with a current diagnosis.
Depression had been steadily increasing even before the pandemic, and Gallup analysts wrote that “social isolation, loneliness, fear of infection, psychological exhaustion (particularly among frontline workers such as health care workers), increased substance abuse, and disruptions in mental health care have all likely played a role” in the rise.
“It may not be surprising that Americans are more depressed and helpless after this period of incredible stress and isolation,” said Dr. Rebecca Brendel, president of the American Psychiatric Association. CNN“The last three years have disrupted everything we knew and continue to impact our health, especially our mental health.”
The recent estimates are based on responses to a web based survey conducted in February of 5,167 U.S. adults who answered the next questions:
- Has a health care provider or nurse ever told you that you simply are depressed?
- Are you currently affected by depression or are you currently being treated for it?
Depression, also called depression depressionis a treatable illness that negatively affects how an individual feels, thinks, and acts. Symptoms might be each emotional (akin to sadness or lack of interest in activities) and physical (akin to tiredness or slowed movements or speech).
The latest study found that depression rates increased probably the most amongst women, young adults, blacks and Hispanics. For the primary time, more blacks and Hispanics than whites reported ever being diagnosed with depression. The lifetime depression rate amongst blacks was 34%, compared with 31% for Hispanics and 29% for whites.
The lifetime rate of depression amongst women rose 10 percentage points over the past five years, to 37 percent in February, the survey results showed. About one in 4 women said they currently have depression or are being treated for it, a rise of 6 percentage points from five years ago.
When analyzing responses by age, those aged 18 to 44 were most probably to report ever having been diagnosed with depression or currently affected by the illness. About a 3rd of younger adults have ever been diagnosed, and multiple in five reported currently affected by depression.
Brendel said awareness and reducing stigma could contribute to rising depression rates.
“We're making it easier to talk about mental health and see it as part of our overall well-being, just like physical health,” she said. “People are aware of depression and are seeking help for it.”
If you or someone you understand needs help, dial 988 to get support from the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It's free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. You can even visit 988lifeline.org and choose the chat feature.