In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million
American adults, suffer from a depressive illness5 The economic cost for this
disorder is high, but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive
illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering
not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them.
Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person.
But much of this suffering is unnecessary.
Most people with a depressive illness do not seek treatment, although the great
majority—even those whose depression is extremely severe—can be helped. Thanks
to years of fruitful research, there are now medications and psychosocial therapies
such as cognitive/behavioral, "talk" or interpersonal that ease the
pain of depression.
Unfortunately, many people do not recognize that depression is a treatable
illness. If you feel that you or someone you care about is one of the many undiagnosed
depressed people in this country, the information presented here may help you
take the steps that may save your own or someone else's life.
