Fast Facts

• The treatment of depression is effective 60 to 80 percent of the time, however according to the World Health Organization, less than 25 percent of individuals with depression receive adequate treatment
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among those 15-24 years old
• There are an estimated 8-25 attempted suicides for every suicide death
• Fewer than one-third of adults and one-half of children with a diagnosable mental disorder receive mental health services in a given year
• Depression affects more than 24 million Americans ages 18 and over in a given year
• About 15 percent of the population will suffer from clinical depression sometime in their lifetime
• Firearms account for approximately 50 percent of all suicide deaths
• A family history of depression increases the chances (by 11 times) that a child will also have depression
• Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse
• A suicide in the United States takes place every 15.2 minutes, totaling 94.8 suicides per day
• Males complete suicide at a rate 3.6 times that of females
• Females attempt suicide three times more often than males
• The risk of suicide is increased by more than 50 percent in depressed individuals
• The risk of suicide in alcoholics is 50 to 70 percent higher than the general population
• A family history of depression increases the chances (by 11 times) that a child will also have depression
• The treatment of depression is effective 60 to 80 percent of the time, however according to the World Health Organization, less than 25 percent of individuals with depression receive adequate treatment
• Bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million American adults per year
• Major depressive disorder affects 14.8 million American adults per year