According to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics, data from 2011 to 2014- the most recent available- shows that almost 13% of people 12 and older are currently taking an antidepressant. Sadly, usage shows no signs of waning.1
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This number is up from 11% during the time period from 2005-2008. In fact, the most recent numbers have increased by nearly 65% since 1999-2002. Back then just 7.7% of Americans reported taking antidepressants.
And we aren’t just using them until we learn coping mechanisms, we are staying on them long term: 68% of people ages 12 and up report taking their antidepressant for two years or more and a quarter of people taking antidepressants reported taking them for 10 years or more.
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The authors of the study also found that “women were about twice as likely as men to say they took antidepressants, a trend that’s been evident for a few years. (Women are twice as likely to develop depression as men.)”2 Also, authors found that antidepressant use went up as people aged.
Depression is real and we need to talk about it. We can no longer ignore the issue; global revenue for antidepressants is projected to grow to nearly $17 billion by 2020. 3
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If you are depressed, please reach out and ask for help. There are amazing support groups and counselors to help you walk through what you are feeling and give you skills to help you better cope. Help is available (for instance diet plays a huge role in depression). You are not alone.
