Depression in Young Adults
Depression in young adults is a common health problem and a growing public concern. In 2006, 1 in 20 U.S. adults had experienced a major depressive episode with severe impairment. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that among ages 18–24, 2.8% met the criteria for major depression, 8.1% met the criteria for other depression (DSM-IV category Depressive Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified – minor or subthreshold depression, or Dysthymia) and 10.9% met the criteria for current depression. Forty-four percent of American college students report feeling symptoms of depression. This data suggests that traditional college aged students may be at high risk for depression or depressed mood.
Each year 44 colleges and universities use random sampling to administer the American College Health Association's (ACHA) National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey to 28,000 students. This assessment surveys students' health status and behavior, including depression and depressive symptoms, for their previous academic year. Based on the findings, the rates of students reporting having been diagnosed with depression have increased from 10% in 2000 to 21% in 2011. In 2011, female students reported depressive symptoms, including 22% feeling that things were hopeless, 23% feeling lonely and 26% feeling very sad within the preceding two weeks to 21% in 2011. Women are at higher risk than men to experience depression.
Read more about this topic: Depression (mood)
Famous quotes containing the words depression, young and/or adults:
“That terrible mood of depression of whether it’s any good or not is what is known as The Artist’s Reward.”
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)
“Young children make only the simple assumption: “This is life—you go along....” He stands ready to go along with whatever adults seem to want. He stands poised, trying to figure out what they want. The young child is almost at the mercy of adults—it is so important to him to please.”
—James L. Hymes, Jr. (20th century)
“Children, then, acquire social skills not so much from adults as from their interactions with one another. They are likely to discover through trial and error which strategies work and which do not, and later to reflect consciously on what they have learned.”
—Zick Rubin (20th century)