According to the official statistics about 26.2 % of U.S. population suffer from some type of mental disorder. This figure translates to more than 57 million people in the USA alone; and this is really a striking figure, because it is almost equal to the total population of such country as Italy and it is twice as big as the population of Canada.

However, in spite of the obvious threat depression may bring to humans, it is said that up to 2 of each 3 people with depression remain untreated. Below are some of the striking facts on depression, which may help to reveal the exact scope of this medical problem and its consequences, when left without proper attention.

• The most common forms of mental disorders in the USA:

-         Anxiety disorders – 40 million adults

-         Social phobia – 15 million adults

-         Major depressive disorder – 14.8 million adults

-         Post-traumatic stress disorder – 7.7 million adults

-         Generalized anxiety disorder – 7 million adults

-         Panic disorder – 6 million adults

-         Bipolar depression – 5.7 million adults.

• The median age of onset for the most common mental disorders are:

-         32 years – for major depressive disorder

-         31 yeas – for generalized anxiety disorder

-         25 years – for bipolar depression

-         24 years – for panic disorder

-         13 years – for social phobia.

• Women suffer from depression more often than men. 41% of women feel too embarrassed to seek for medical help in case of depression.

• Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

• People with depression are four times more likely to develop a heart attack than those without a history of the illness.

• By year 2020 depression will be the second largest killer of humans after heart diseases.

• Depression is the cause of over two-thirds of suicides in the USA. Besides, for every two homicides there are three suicides.

• Though depression is a treatable condition (the success rate is about 80 %), the majority of depressed people do not seek for medical help.
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• People spent over $17 billion (in 2005) for buying antidepressants, with Effexor, Zoloft and Prozac having the leading positions.

• Every year the U.S. business loses about $70 billion because of depression (medical expenditures, lost productivity, etc.)

• Antidepressants work successfully for about 35 % of patients. Obviously, because of this fact and serious side effects, associated with antidepressants use, up to 16% of depressed people choose to treat depression with psychological counseling and no medical interventions.