19 million — Number of American adults who will experience depression this year.
27.2 — Average number of workdays missed annually by Americans with major depression.
Source: Health Magazine, July/August 2007
Wow, on one hand you want to ask, what’s going on in this country that so many of us are so depressed? On the other hand, you want to say, no wonder there’s so many of those annoying commercials with those bouncing bubble people who are frowny or smiley. Sometimes I wonder if we aren’t happy because we’ve been told to expect to be happier and have more. I wonder what the statistics are for other countries.
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We work longer hours and get less vacation than other european countries; our religious institutions (for the most part) emphasize adherence to political dogma rather than spiritual growth, there is no safety net ensuring our basic human needs, and despite all of this people who aren’t rich are still considered lazy, good-for-nothing ignorant folks who don’t deserve health care or basic human considerations.
The only reason more people aren’t on anti-depressants in this country is that there are so many people who can’t afford them.
Well, I definitely agree with the last part. When I lost my job, I had to forgo my meds. Unemployment didn’t pay for my rent so it certainly wasn’t paying for my antidepressants or anti-migraine meds. Then, because it takes 6 months to qualify for health insurance when you start a new job, well…
When I was going through the most stressful, most traumatic time of my life, I didn’t even have the meds I needed to help me.
Oh, and ironically, because I had been responsible and put money into an IRA and a 403 while I was employed, I didn’t qualify for any food stamp or other social service program.