Depression by the numbers

21% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2020 (52.9 million people). Of those with mental illness, about 40% suffer from major depression.

16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people).

The most common cause of hospitalization for all people in the U.S. under the age of 45 is mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 in the U.S., and the 10th leading cause of death for all age groups.

Of those with mental illness, less than half get treatment.

The average amount of time between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. Stigma is one of many barriers to treatment.

People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disease than the general population.

People with depression are more likely to become unemployed, drop out of school, or repeat a grade.

Mental illness is strongly correlated with unstable housing and incarceration.

statistics courtesy of NAMI