Prevalence Of Major Depressive Episode Among Adolescents
- Figure 2 shows the past year prevalence of major depressive episode among U.S. adolescents in 2020.
- An estimated 4.1 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 17.0% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17.
- The prevalence of major depressive episode was higher among adolescent females compared to males .
- The prevalence of major depressive episode was highest among adolescents reporting two or more races .
Figure 2
| Demographic | |
|---|---|
| 2 or more Races | 29.9 |
*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. Note: Estimates for Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander and American Indian / Alaskan Native groups are not reported in the above figure due to low precision of data collection in 2020.
Telemedicine & Mental Health
There is still a stigma to depression and anxiety. So many people experience this stress, anxiety and depression, and don’t necessarily talk about it, says Dr. Fava. His hope is that in 2020, as so many people are experiencing this, the increasing awareness and access to psychiatry will help remove that stigma.
In fact, COVID-19 has made it easier than ever to get treatment from a mental health provider via virtual visits. In March 2019, Mass General providers saw 5% of patients through telepsychiatry, either over video or phone calls. Since March 2020, they now see 97% of patients virtually.
In psychiatry we dont need to do physical examinations or procedures, and so delivery of care can be virtual, Dr. Fava says. We can reach our patients wherever they are to deliver care. Its just as effective as in-person visits and patients like them.
Patients no longer experience the added stress of driving to Mass General, finding parking, paying for gas and then repeating weekly or monthly, as they can now speak to their provider from their home via video chat or over the phone. And, again, Dr. Fava reports that these sessions are just as effective as in-person visits.
Is Social Media To Blame
Many experts interviewed by Healthline singled out social media as a potential vector for this increase in depressive symptoms.
Millennials were the first generation to grow up with the constant flow of information from the internet and social media they are being bombarded with details about the personal and professionals lives of others, said Jessica Singh, a mental health therapist and founder of Transcendence Counseling Center, LLC in Vero Beach, Florida.
Millennials cant help but compare their situations and achievements to everyone elses, which can leave them feeling insecure and unaccomplished, Singh told Healthline.
As a result, Millennials are feeling the pressure to always look and act like they have it all together. This can easily result in lowered self-esteem, anxiety, or depression, she said.
This tracks with previous studies that have indicated social media use may increase depression and loneliness.
Then theres the reality that social media interactions are simply less real, substantive, and protective than ones in real life, said Kathryn Moore, PhD, a psychologist at Providence Saint Johns Child and Family Development Center in Santa Monica, California.
I see many young adults who say they are social, but their social interactions consist of talking with people online while playing a video game for hours, she told Healthline. These types of social interactions arent allowing for true sharing, connectedness, or feeling known.
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Uncommon Ways To Cope When Life Gets Tough
If you feel like this description fits you, research on the treatment of intolerance of uncertainty suggests that you should first accept that it is impossible to be certain about everything in life. It would help if you tried to recognize that uncertainty can also lead to positive outcomes . Most importantly, rather than avoid uncertainty, you can seek out unpredictable or uncertain situations without seeking reassurance from others, analyzing all possible outcomes, or distracting yourself.
For example, dont plan anything for the weekend just go with the flow. Travel somewhere new without doing any research, try a new activity or hobby you arent sure you will like. Or turn off your phone for a few hours . The more you practice tolerating uncertain situations and realize that it isnt as bad as you thought, the better you will become at tolerating and accepting uncertainty in your life.
3. Practice mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness may seem annoying to a stressed parent, but it only takes a few minutes.
Research finds that mindfulness can help parents accept and not overreact to negative life events, understand their emotions toward themselves and their children, control their own emotions in challenging parenting situations, and have more compassion for themselves and their children.
Another study found that the Calm app reduced stress, increased self-compassion, and improved sleep.
Resources For Mental Health
One of the best things anyone can do for friends, family or neighbors who may be suffering is to reach out, Dr. Fava says. It has a positive effect.
Additionally, the clinicians within the Department of Psychiatry have curated a Guide to Mental Health Resources that includes tips, blog posts, videos, apps and other resources for anyone looking for help coping.
Its okay to not feel okay, Dr. Fava says. This is a stress affecting all of us one way or another to different degrees. And once you acknowledge that to yourself and to others, you can start to look for strategies and resources for treatment and better health.
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Why American Teens Are So Sad
Four forces are propelling the rising rates of depression among young people.
The United States is experiencing an extreme teenage mental-health crisis. From 2009 to 2021, the share of American high-school students who say they feel persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness rose from 26 percent to 44 percent, according to a new CDC study. This is the highest level of teenage sadness ever recorded.
The government survey of almost 8,000 high-school students, which was conducted in the first six months of 2021, found a great deal of variation in mental health among different groups. More than one in four girls reported that they had seriously contemplated attempting suicide during the pandemic, which was twice the rate of boys. Nearly half of LGBTQ teens said they had contemplated suicide during the pandemic, compared with 14 percent of their heterosexual peers. Sadness among white teens seems to be rising faster than among other groups.
But the big picture is the same across all categories: Almost every measure of mental health is getting worse, for every teenage demographic, and its happening all across the country. Since 2009, sadness and hopelessness have increased for every race for straight teens and gay teens for teens who say theyve never had sex and for those who say theyve had sex with males and/or females for students in each year of high school and for teens in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
So why is this happening?
1. Social-media use
Healthamerica’s Youngest Face Mental Health Crisis
Kids and young adults, especially, feel rushed and pressured, Williams said.
While social media can connect people who might otherwise feel isolated, it can also help pile on the pressure, she said.
I wouldnt say that social media is responsible for a rise in depression more the being rushed and lack of connections that we have in the structure of how we live lives now, she added.
But Dr. Karyn Horowitz of Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island thinks social media may be a big factor.
For some kids, video game use can become an addiction leading to social isolation, poor school performance, and impaired sleep, she said.
It is possible that the increased rates of depression in adolescents is related to a combination of increased electronics use and sleep disruptions in already vulnerable individuals, she added.
For the report, Blue Cross and Blue Shield looked at medical health insurance claims from 41 million insurance holders.
They found 4.4 percent of them had a diagnosis of major depression in 2016.
“Diagnoses of major depression have risen dramatically by 33 percent since 2013,” the report reads.
According to the report, 2.6 percent of youths aged 12 to17 were diagnosed with major depression in 2016, a 63 percent increase from 1.6 percent in 2013.
Among young adults aged 18 to 34, 4.4 percent had major depression in 2016, compared to 3 percent in 2013. Thats a 47 percent increase.
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How To Minimize Negative Effects Of Social Media Use
While we dont yet have conclusive evidence that social media use actually causes depression, we do have plenty of warning signs that it may be affecting our kids negatively. So its smart for parents to check in regularly with kids about their social media use, to make sure its positive and healthy, and guide them towards ways to change it, if you think its not.
Also, be alert for symptoms of depression. If you notice signs that your child might be depressed, take them seriously. Ask your child how they are doing, and dont hesitate to set up an appointment with a mental health provider.
Steps you can take to ensure healthy social media use:
Study Finds Major Depression Increased 60% In Older Adults From 2010 To 2019
The prevalence of depression is increasing among older adults, but there has not been a proportional increase in mental health treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Kevin H. Yang, M.D., from the University of California in San Diego, and colleagues used data from 31,502 participants in the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine trends in depression and mental health treatment among older adults .
The researchers found that during the study period, the estimated prevalence of past-year major depressive episodes among older adults increased from 2.0 to 3.2%, a 60% increase. Increases were identified among men, white individuals, widows, individuals with an annual household income of under $20,000, or from $20,000 to $49,000, and those with a college degree. There were no significant changes observed for any form of past-year mental health treatment among those with a major depressive episode.
“These findings call for urgent expansion of treatment services and training of mental health professionals with expertise in older adults to meet the needs of this growing, vulnerable population,” the authors write.
Explore further
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Statistical Methods And Measurement Caveats
Diagnostic Assessment:
Population:
- The entirety of NSDUH respondents for the major depressive episode estimates is the civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 12-17 and 18 years old or older residing within the United States.
- The survey covers residents of households and persons in non-institutional group quarters .
- The survey does not cover persons who, for the entire year, had no fixed address were on active military duty or who resided in institutional group quarters .
- Some adults and adolescents in these excluded categories may have had a major depressive episode in the past year, but they are not accounted for in the NSDUH major depressive episode estimates.
- Sex was recorded by the interviewer.
Interview Response and Completion:
- In 2020, 39.6% of the selected NSDUH sample did not complete the interview.
- Reasons for non-response to interviewing include: refusal to participate respondent unavailable or no one at home and other reasons such as physical/mental incompetence or language barriers .
- Adults and adolescents with major depressive episode may disproportionately fall into these non-response categories. While NSDUH weighting includes non-response adjustments to reduce bias, these adjustments may not fully account for differential non-response by mental illness status.
Data Suppression:
Background on the 2020 NSDUH and the COVID-19 Pandemic:
The State Of Mental Health In America
Mental Health America is committed to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness. We advocate for prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated services, care and treatment for those who need them, and recovery as the goal.
We believe that gathering and providing up-to-date data and information about disparities faced by individuals with mental health problems is a tool for change.
FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE REPORT.
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Why Is Depression Increasing In The Us
ByDanial D | Submitted On June 13, 2007
Of all of the medical issues that are prevalent in US at present, clinical depression is not only hard to diagnose but more often it is quite grueling to treat properly. Experts believe that depression is going beyond normal sadness.
Depression can be defined as the state of being so sad that it affects your body functioning. For example, if you find it tough to get out of bed in the morning and have no interest in doing work, you are experiencing few of the major signs of clinical depression. In that case, it is recommended that you should consult a doctor immediately.
You can’t treat depression yourself, one need to consult clinical or medial professional in this regard. But remember the point that just because you are not feeling flash does not mean that you are suffering from a medical condition that needs medications, as is pretty much the case with clinical depression. Not every doctor can treat depression, so it is of paramount importance that you choose doctor on the basis of experience and reputation.
There is no doubt that depression is a big problem and even worse it is growing at an alarming speed. If you take a look at recent figures, one can clear up basic misconceptions and make it a straightforward task tackling major depression at its root.
As already mentioned, clinical or major depression is growing at a fast rate.
oAround 20% of people experience symptoms of depression.
Danial D
Depression Rate Has Tripled Among Us Adults
BU public health researchers say more than a quarter of American adults are experiencing COVID-related symptoms of depression
One in four American adults is now likely to be experiencing symptoms of depression, a threefold increase from last year. As the COVID-19 pandemic claims the lives of thousands of people in the United States, as millions of Americans have lost their jobs, as parents and teachers worry about kids going back to school, and as renters face eviction and homeowners face foreclosure, those findingsfrom a first-of-its-kind nationwide studyreveal that the global coronavirus pandemic is taking a dire toll on mental health in the United States.
The study, conducted by researchers at Boston Universitys School of Public Health, found the prevalence of depression symptoms in the United States more than tripled during the pandemic. Where 8.5 percent of adults were experiencing depression symptoms before the pandemic, the rate climbed to 27.8 percent of adults by mid-April. The findings are published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Depression in the general population after prior large-scale traumatic events has been observed to, at most, double, says study senior author Sandro Galea, School of Public Health dean and Robert A. Knox Professor. He cites examples such as September 11, the West Africa Ebola outbreak, and recent civil unrest in Hong Kong.
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Access To Care Ranking 2022
The Access Ranking indicates how much access to mental health care exists within a state. The access measures include access to insurance, access to treatment, quality and cost of insurance, access to special education, and workforce availability. A high Access Ranking indicates that a state provides relatively more access to insurance and mental health treatment.
The 9 measures that make up the Access Ranking include:
An Epidemic Of Depression
All diseases of modernity exhibit the sine qua non characteristic of an increasing incidence over time, because the environment continues to deviate further from the human EEA and individuals live longer within these novel environments. Depression is certainly not new, though its prevalence throughout human history is unknown. The affliction of sorrow, fright, and despondency exhibits remarkable historical continuity from ancient to modern times . Evidence for or against the possibility of changing rates over millennia and centuries is wanting. In his encyclopedic account of the subtypes, causes, and treatments of melancholy, from the 17th century, Richard Burton notes its ubiquity:
Being then a disease so grievous, so common, I know not wherein to do a more general service, and to spend my time better, than to prescribe means how to prevent and cure so universal a malady, an epidemical disease, that so often, so much crucifies the body and minds
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Stressed: Mom: With: Childjpg
COVID-19 has tripled the rate of depression in US adults in all demographic groupsespecially in those with financial worriesand the rise is much higher than after previous major traumatic events, according to a study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.
Led by researchers from Boston University, the study involved data from 1,441 respondents to a COVID-19 Life Stressors Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being survey, which was conducted Mar 31 to Apr 13, when 96% of the country was under coronavirus-related lockdowns.
Responses were compared with those from 5,065 respondents to the 2017-18 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to gauge prepandemic depression prevalence. Both surveys are based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the most commonly used self-administered depression screening tool.