About 18.8 million American adults suffer from depression each year. That’s 9.5 percent of the population. The financial toll is enormous. The human toll is immeasurable.
Depression doesn’t just stay in the background. It destroys normal functioning. It causes deep pain to the sufferer and everyone around him. Serious cases can destroy family life. It can destroy an individual’s life.
Much of this suffering is unnecessary.
Treatability gap
The majority of people suffering from depression never seek treatment. This is a critical omission. The vast majority of patients can be helped. This also applies to very serious cases.
Years of research have led to concrete solutions. We have medication now. We offer psychosocial treatments. Cognitive/behavioral models work. Interpersonal therapy works. Standard “talk” therapy works. These methods relieve pain.
Still, many do not recognize depression as a treatable disease. They see it as a lack of character or a passing mood. It is neither one nor the other. It is a medical condition.
Take the next step
If you feel that you or someone you care about is one of the many undiagnosed depressed people in this country, take action. The following information can help you take steps that could save a life. Your own or someone else’s.
Here’s the starting point:
- Are antidepressants right for me? – Find out if pharmacology is the right way to go.
- Types of depression – Not all depression looks the same.
- Symptoms of Depression and Mania – Learn to recognize the signs, including manic episodes.
- Causes of depression – Learn about biological and environmental triggers.
- Diagnostic assessment and treatment of depression – What happens when you see a professional.
- Psychotherapies for depression – Details on talk therapy options.
- How antidepressants work – An overview of the mechanism of action.
The information is clear. Help is available. The obstacle is often knowledge, not availability. You can learn more by following these specific treatment pathways.
