According to a fresh report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, depression is on the rise among both adults and adolescents in the United States, yet most aren’t seeking therapeutic support. Recent findings reveal that more than one in eight Americans aged 12 and older have experienced depression, with rates nearly doubling from 7.3% in 2015-16 to over 13% in 2021-23.
This information stems from a federal survey conducted between August 2021 and August 2023, where participants disclosed symptoms associated with depression over the previous two weeks. Modifications in the survey, prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, might have impacted tracking accuracy, noted Dr. Renee Goodwin, a psychiatric epidemiologist from Columbia University.
The fact remains, however, that the pandemic has undeniably exacerbated mental health issues across the nation. A 2022 CNN survey highlighted that a whopping 90% of adults believe the US faces a mental health crisis.
Gender differences emerged, with 16% of women and 10% of men reporting depression during 2021-23. Notably, over a quarter of adolescent girls showed signs of depression, a stark contrast to other demographics. Dr. Jill Emanuele from the Child Mind Institute mentioned that traditionally, girls are more vocal about their struggles than boys, who are catching up slowly.
Data indicates that women are more likely than men to seek therapy, with 43% compared to 33%. Furthermore, women are also more inclined to use medication for depression. In 2023, 11.4% of US adults used antidepressants, breaking down into over 15% of women and 7.4% of men. While prescription rates for mental health stagnated post-pandemic, antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, remain a common treatment, with a steady prescribing rate observed over recent years.
Vocabulary List:
- Epidemiologist /ˌɛpɪˌdiːmiˈɒlədʒɪst/ (noun): A specialist in the study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations.
- Exacerbated /ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪtɪd/ (verb): Made a problem or negative situation worse.
- Therapeutic /ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk/ (adjective): Having healing properties or providing healing treatment.
- Demographics /ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪks/ (noun): Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
- Adolescents /ˌæd.əˈles.ənt/ (noun): Young people in the transitional stage of development between childhood and adulthood.
- Medication /ˌmɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/ (noun): A substance used for medical treatment especially a medicine or drug.
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