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Depression: it’s an illness some have experienced, but that few understand. The word itself is often used in a casual tone or interchanged with overall feelings of sadness. However, it’s imperative to know that depression is a serious illness that affects a large amount of the population.

Living with an illness such as depression can feel extremely overwhelming and oftentimes hopeless for those that live with it in their everyday lives. Depression has a way of depleting its victims’ energy and robbing its victims of joy once found in normal activities. While it’s important to understand what depression is, it’s more important to know that if you feel you’re suffering from depression, you are not alone and help is available.

What is Depression?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are two different types of depression: major depression and persistent depressive disorder. Major depression includes symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, or simply enjoy life. Persistent depressive disorder is a depressed mood that lasts for at least 2 years.

Sadness is a feeling everyone experiences at times, but when it becomes an interference with your daily life and begins to affect those around you, it may be time to seek help.

Depression Statistics: How Common is Depression?

Depression is a common illness that affects people in different ways. You would be surprised to learn that depression has a greater impact than you might think. According to the Huffington Post:

• Some form of depression affects 350,000,000 people globally.
• 11%: the percentage of adolescents who have a depressive disorder by the age of 18.
• 70%: the percentage by which women are more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetime.
• 16,000,000: the estimated number of U.S. adults who had at least one major depressive episode 2012. This made up approximately 6.9 percent of all adults in the country.
• 30%: the number of college students who reported feeling depressed, which disrupted their ability to function in school.
• $80,000,000,000: the estimated annual cost of depression in the U.S. due to lost productivity and health care.
• 8,000,000: the number of ambulatory care visits from a 2010 CDC report where a major depressive disorder was the primary diagnosis.
• 50% : the percentage of Americans with major depression that don’t seek treatment for the mental illness.
• 10%: the estimated number of American adults age 65 and older who have diagnosable depressive disorder.
• 10-20: the number of week’s psychotherapy treatments for depression usually lasts.

Finding Help for Depression in Lee & Collier Counties, FL

If you believe you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, it’s important to seek help right away. Don’t let depression consumer your life. At the David Lawrence Centers in Naples, Florida, we provide a variety of youth and adult mental health services.

Our team of certified behavioral health specialists will assist in your assessment and overall treatment. Our goal is to provide you with the information and skills necessary to handle depression in your everyday life.

For additional information, please contact the David Lawrence Centers today.