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Depression affects more than 19 million Americans every year,
regardless of age, race, or gender. While depression is not a
normal part of the aging process, there is a strong likelihood of
it occurring when other physical health conditions are present. For
example, nearly a quarter of the 600,000 people who experience a
stroke in a given year will experience clinical depression.
Unfortunately, symptoms of depression are often overlooked and
untreated when they coincide with other medical illnesses or life
events that commonly occur as people age (e.g., loss of loved
ones). However, clinical depression is never a �normal� response;
it is a serious medical illness that should be treated at any
age.
Prevalence
- More than two million of the 34 million Americans age 65 and
older suffer from some form of depression.
Co-occurring Illnesses
- Symptoms of clinical depression can be triggered by other
chronic illnesses common in later life, such as Alzheimer�s
disease, Parkinson�s disease, heart disease, cancer and
arthritis.
Widowhood
- One-third of widows/widowers meet criteria for depression in
the first month after the death of their spouse, and half of these
individuals remain clinically depressed after one year.
Healthcare Costs
- Older patients with symptoms of depression have roughly 50%
higher healthcare costs than non-depressed seniors.
Suicide
- Depression is a significant predictor of suicide in elderly
Americans.
- Comprising only 13% of the U.S. population, individuals aged 65
and older account for 20% of all suicide deaths, with white males
being particularly vulnerable.
- Suicide among white males aged 85 and older (65.3 deaths per
100,000 persons) is nearly six times the suicide rate (10.8 per
100,000) in the U.S.
Treatment
- More than 55% of older persons treated for mental health
services received care from primary care physicians. Less than 3%
aged 65 and older received treatment from mental health
professionals.
- Primary care physicians accurately recognize less than one half
of patients with depression, resulting in potentially decreased
function and increased length of hospitalization.
Fortunately, clinical depression is a very treatable illness.
More than 80% of all people with depression can be successfully
treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of
both.
Older Adult Attitudes Toward
Depression:
According to a National Mental Health Association survey on
attitudes and beliefs about clinical depression:
- Approximately 68% of adults aged 65 and over know little or
almost nothing about depression.
- Only 38% of adults aged 65 and over believe that depression is
a �health� problem.
- If suffering from depression, older adults are more likely than
any other group to �handle it themselves.� Only 42% would seek help
from a health professional.
- Signs of depression are mentioned more frequently by people
under age 64 than people aged 65 and over. These include �a change
in eating habits� (29% vs. 15%), �a change in sleeping habits� (33%
vs. 16%) and �sadness� (28% vs. 15%).
- About 58% of people aged 65 and older believe that it is
�normal� for people to get depressed as they grow older.
Other Resources:
Contact your local Mental Health Association, community mental
health center or for additional resources, please call
1-800-969-NMHA.
NMHA's Campaign for America's
Mental Health works to raise awareness that mental illnesses
are common, real and treatable illnesses and ensure that those most
at-risk receive proper, timely and effective treatment.
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