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SALT LAKE CITY — The most effective treatment for depression is therapy combined with medication, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yet, a new CDC survey shows just 35 percent of Americans with severe depression and 20 percent with moderate depression seek treatment. About 1 in 13 Americans experienced depression between 2009 and 2012, according to a recent report from the CDC.
To determine various demographics affected by depression, the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics interviewed nationally representative teenagers and adults and found that 7.6 percent of Americans aged 12 and over had depression.
“Depression is a serious medical illness with mood, cognitive and physical symptoms,” the CDC explained. “Rates of treatment remain low, and the treatment received is often inadequate.”
Related:
Depression in men is a hidden epidemic
Society has come a long way in recognizing this difference, but one stereotype remains: Men are looked upon as weak if they become emotional. This stereotype has played a role in many men deciding not to address their depression.For the survey, participants answered questions regarding their physical, cognitive and mood system during the last two weeks, according to CDC.
Middle age seems to be the highest peak for depression, researchers learned.
Women aged 40-59 reported being the most depressed, with 12.3 percent of participants expressing depressive symptoms.
Crisis Hotlines
- Utah County Crisis Line: 801-226- 4433
- Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373- 7393
- National Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1- 866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: nam iut.org
- Salt Lake Mental Health: saltlakementalhealth.com
- Utah Chapter-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: a fsputah.com
The lowest demographic for depression was men in the youngest group, aged 12-17, sitting at 4 percent, and men in the oldest group, 60 plus, at 3.4 percent. In fact, men exude lower depression rates than women at all ages.
Poverty played a huge part for those who were depressed, the survey suggested.
More than twice as many poor participants, 15 percent, were depressed compared to the 6.2 percent of people living at or above the poverty line.
Almost all of the participants with depression reported having difficulty with work, home or social activities, according to CDC.
“Numerous studies have also shown that persons with depression have more functional limitations than those without depression,” CDC reported.
Although primary care physicians can prescribe medication, CDC recommends those diagnosed with depression to seek a mental health professional for their therapy needs.
