Clinical Depression
What portion of U.S. adults say they have been told by a doctor or nurse that they have depression?
Correct Answer
A 2023 scientific survey by Gallup found that 29% of U.S. adults answered "Yes" to the question, "Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have depression?" The rate for men was 20%, while the rate for women was 37%. Per Gallup's report, "Clinical depression had been slowly rising in the U.S. prior to the Covid-19 pandemic but has jumped notably in its wake. Social isolation, loneliness, fear of infection, psychological exhaustion (particularly among front-line responders such as healthcare workers), elevated substance abuse and disruptions in mental health services have all likely played a role." In May 2020 while politicians and public health officials were fueling such harms, Just Facts published a study which found that anxiety from reactions to Covid-19 will ultimately destroy 7 to 90 times more years of life than can possibly be saved by lockdowns. These consequences will manifest for decades because anxiety typically shortens lifespans many years later, not instantly.
DocumentationGallup Depression SurveyJust Facts Study