Sermon Illustrations
Depression Treatment Numbers Surge
In May of 2023, over 5,000 Americans were asked “Do you currently have or are you currently being treated for depression?" The study showed that around 24% of women in the U.S. reported currently having or being treated for depression, compared to 11% of men.
These numbers have increased from a similar study in 2017, when 17.6% of women reported currently having or being treated for depression, compared to 9% of men. In six years, the total number of men and women having or being treated for depression increased from 13.5% (2017) to 17.8% (2023).
- According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a mental illness.
- Anxiety disorders are the highest reported mental health issue in the U.S. with 42.5 million Americans claiming to suffer from this illness. (Mental Health America).
- Mental health crises account for 60 million visits to primary care and 6 million ER visits annually. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
- More than 40,000 Americans die annually from suicide, which is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Editor’s Note: You can view many more mental health statistics here and here.