Signs That You’re Suffering from Depression: 10 Big Signs We Need to Know
Depression is a common mental illness that affects more than 300 million people worldwide — 20% of them women, 10% males, and 5% or more of them are adolescents.
According to the World Health Organization, it is the most prevalent cause of disability worldwide, affecting 17.6 million people annually and costing around $50 billion each year.
Only one-third of depressed patients receive treatment for their symptoms, and it’s estimated that suicide claims the lives of 1 million people each year.
Depression can affect anyone at any age, including children. Between 2013 and 2016, 8.1% of American adults ages 20 and above had depression in a specific two-week period.
13.3 percent of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 had at least one major depressive episode in 2017. About 3.2% of children aged three to seventeen have been diagnosed with depression.
While this number seems staggering, there are many reasons why depression can be difficult to identify in some people.
These alarming statistics show just how important it is to recognize signs and symptoms of depression in others — especially friends or family members who may not exhibit all 10 of the following signs on their own.
