CDC Reports That Depression Affects More Than 1 in 20 Americans

A new CDC study (see report) states that in any 2 week period, 5.4% of Americans aged 12 or older are depressed. Only 29% of all persons with depression reported contacting a mental health professional in the past year; 39% of persons with severe depression had done so. Females, persons living below the poverty level and non-Hispanic black persons had higher levels of depression than other groups.