How common is depression in the United States?
Depression is one of the most common types of mental disorders in the United States with around 8.3 percent of U.S. adults reporting a major depressive episode in the past year as of 2021. Although anyone can experience depression, it is more common among women than men and younger adults than older adults. For example, in 2021 around 27 percent of women aged 18 to 20 reported a major depressive episode in the past year compared to 8.6 percent of women aged 40 to 44 years. Depression is a major risk factor for suicide so it is important for anyone who is suffering from depression and having thoughts of suicide to seek help. In 2021, around 32 percent of those in the U.S. with a major depressive episode in the past year had serious thoughts of suicide compared to just two percent of those who did not have a major depressive episode.The connection between mental health and substance abuse
Substance abuse has been known to promote symptoms of mental illness and those with mental illness will often abuse substances as a form of self-medication. In 2021, around 26 percent of U.S. adults who reported alcohol dependence or abuse had serious mental illness. Those suffering from mental illness also use illicit drugs of all kinds at higher rates than those without such illness. For example, almost 34 percent of adults who had mental illness in the past year as of 2021 used marijuana, compared to 15 percent of adults who did not suffer from mental illness.Mental health treatment
Treatment for mental health issues can come in many different forms and depends on the type and severity of the disorder. Common treatment methods include psychotherapy, behavioral therapy or counseling, medication, hospitalization, or support groups. Somewhat ironically, the use of psychedelic drugs has also recently been explored in treating a number of mental health disorders. The most common types of professionals seen for treatment among adults with a major depressive episode include a general practitioner or family doctor, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or a counselor. However, around 43 percent of adults in the U.S. report they did not receive mental health services because they could not afford it and 35 percent said they did not know where to go for such services.
