It varies hugely between individuals, but can last anything from a few months to a few years, usually with remissions in between. People who are 45 or older tend to be more likely to have recurrent episodes. In general, depression is more common in elderly people - but depression is not a normal part of ageing. It is just as much an illness for an elderly person and just as treatable.

According to the WHO, around 15-20 percent of all people who have depression complete suicide - but suicide is avoidable if people have the right treatment.

Depression Statistics

Depressive disorders encompass major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. Approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder. Nearly twice as many women (12.0 percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder each year. These figures translate to 12.4 million women and 6.4 million men in the U.S. Depressive disorders may be appearing earlier in life in people born in recent decades compared to the past. Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.

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