INTRODUCTION
More
than 19 million adults experience depression each year in
the United States. Many of them will be unnecessarily incapacitated
for the duration of their illness. Nearly twice as many
women (12 percent) as men (7 percent) suffer from depression
each year. Perhaps most concerning is the fatality rate
from major depression. It is estimated that 15% of individuals
with severe major depressive disorder die by suicide.
In
the U.S. alone, depression costs more than $30 billion per
year in direct and indirect costs. Major depression is the
number one leading cause of disability in the United States
and the entire world, according to a recent study by the
World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University.
Depression
is often an illness that may occur by itself, or may develop
as a complication of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, cancer,
or other chronic illness. Recent evidence even indicates
that depression itself can be a risk factor for developing
other diseases. It increases the risk of heart attack, for
example. One recent study found that over a 13-year period,
those with a history of major depression were four times
as likely to suffer a heart attack compared to people without
such a history. Despite this considerable interaction of
depression with other illnesses, DEPRESSION IS TREATABLE.
Having
a Crisis?
Befriendes.org has a detailed website with listings
of CRISIS centers and phone numbers throughout the US
and World. Other places to look for help include the Boys
Town National Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-3000, (in English
or Spanish. TTY line for hearing impaired: 1-800-448-1833).
The National Alliance Mental Illness at 800-950-NAMI
(6264) is another dedicated hotline. Finally, if you or
somebody you know is suicidal, you can get help and information
at the National Crisis Line at 1-888-SUICIDE.
