Depression, like many other mental health disorders, does not always reveal itself in shades of black and white. Some individuals may respond positively to therapy and medications, while others might not have the same response. In fact, some individuals may never receive appropriate treatment for a variety of reasons – ranging from lack of health insurance to financial constraints. At times, it might be the very nature of the person’s depressive symptoms that prevents them from leaving their home to pursue adequate treatment.
Individuals with depression experience a variety of symptoms, including: feelings of sadness; anxiety; agitation; sleep disturbance; trouble focusing and concentrating; frequent or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; and loss of interest in activities.[1]
The Huffington Post recently published some eye-opening statistics:
Depression affects over 350,000,000 people worldwide. To put that figure into perspective, the population of the United States was around 320,000,000 in 2014.[2]
Depression does not just manifest itself in adults. Nearly 11% of adolescents will have a depressive disorder by the age of 18.
Women are 70% more likely than man to experience depression in their lifetime. However, around 16 million men experienced a depressive episode at least once as of 2012.
30 percent of college students reported depression, which disturbed their school abilities.
The estimated annual cost of depression in the U.S. due to lost productivity and health care is over $80 million.[3]
If you suffer from depression, or any other health conditions that prevent you from working, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Please contact the Disability Attorneys of Arizona for more information regarding Social Security Disability benefits and assistance with filing an application.