That’s how many people struggle each day with depression in the United States. This epidemic is broad reaching, but highly stigmatized, meaning that many sufferers are ashamed or avoid seeking treatment. The recent suicide of legendary comedic actor Robin Williams brings awareness to the disease that carries so many stigmas.
Although depression doesn’t discriminate, men and women may experience depression differently. While there are many common symptoms that are experienced by sufferers of both genders, there are many symptoms that are either completely different or experienced differently. Women are twice as likely as men to develop depression - about 20 percent will develop some form of the disease during their lives. In women, it occurs most commonly between the ages of 40 and 59.
Hormones, gene disruptions, and other biological factors that may occur as early as in fetal development may be responsible for putting women at a higher risk of developing depression. Women are also far more likely to seek treatment for their depression than men, which may skew data about gender differences for depression in their favor. Men may be more likely to wait to seek treatment until the depression is in a more severe state.
Women Are More Likely To Develop Depression And Seek Treatment For It
Women have a number of factors that make them more likely to develop depression. However, women are also far more likely to report symptoms of depression or mental health issues than men, with 29 percent of women having been treated for a mental health problem, as compared with 17 percent of men. One-quarter of women will be diagnosed with depression in their lifetimes, as opposed to 10 percent of men.