Introduction
Major depression is a common and potentially lethal condition. Early data suggest
that the population-level burden of depression has been exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic. Prepandemic estimates of depression prevalence are required to quantify
and comprehensively address the pandemic's impact on mental health in the U.S.
Methods
Data were drawn from the 2015–2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally
representative study of U.S. individuals aged ≥12 years. The prevalence of past-year
depression and help seeking for depression were estimated from 2015 to 2019, and time
trends were tested with Poisson regression with robust SEs. Point estimates were calculated
for 2020 and not included in statistical trend analyses because of differences in
data collection procedures.
Results
In 2020, 9.2% (SE=0.31) of Americans aged ≥12 years experienced a past-year major
depressive episode. Depression was more common among young adults aged 18–25 years
(17.2%, SE=0.78), followed closely by adolescents aged 12–17 years (16.9%, SE=0.84).
Depression increased most rapidly among adolescents and young adults and increased
among nearly all sex, racial/ethnic, income, and education groups. Depression prevalence
did not change among adults aged ≥35 years, and the prevalence of help seeking remained
consistently low across the study period.
Conclusions
From 2015 to 2019, there were widespread increases in depression without commensurate
increases in treatment, and in 2020, past 12‒month depression was prevalent among
nearly 1 in 10 Americans and almost 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults. Decisive
action involving a multipronged public health campaign that includes evidence-based
prevention and intervention to address this ongoing mental health crisis is urgently
needed.
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Publication history
Published online: September 19, 2022
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© 2022 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
