What Is Depression?
3. Statistics
From 2009 to 2012, it was estimated that 7.6% of Americans aged 12 years and above had depression. It is more common among females and those between the ages of 40 to 59 years old compared to other age groups. In 2015, about 16.1 million (6.7%) individuals 18 years or older had experienced at least one major depressive episode.
Globally, the prevalence rates of depression among adults are similar to the United States. However, data regarding adolescents and children is sparse. One study showed that the incidence of depression in preschool children to be 0.9%, in school children to be 1.9%, and in adolescents 4.7%. Another study showed more than 11% in male high school students and 22% in female high school students. Although rates of depression are highest in those aged 24 to 44 years old, the incidence increases with advancing age, especially when there is illness.
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