If that is not bad, take a look at the faces behind that 18.3%. We are talking about an estimated 47.8 million Americans suffering from depression -- that is 6 million more than the entire population of Canada! Only someone with their head in the sand would say this is not an epidemic. Indeed, most of the increase has occurred since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 so this pandemic is tied to the one before it. Gallup is the firm with the statistics and their results for 2025 Feb. 18-26 and May 27-June 4, 2025, (11,288 U.S. adults) were to the questions: “Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have depression?” and if yes, “Do you currently have or are you currently being treated for depression?”
If you know me, you know I am not a fan of governing by poll but this poll has revealed a serious health issue for Americans that cannot be wished away. The ongoing Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index is working to take the pulse of Americans on a regular basis. In this survey, the percentage of adults who report having been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime stands at 28.5% -- just about the record high of 29.0% measured in the first quarter of 2023. We are not talking about folks who wake up on the wrong side of the bed but a medical diagnosis. This is a pandemic and one of great consequence. It is not a one time deal but an ongoing crisis.
This is highest among the poor and the young and lower among the older and financially secure. The rates that should shock us: the current depression rate of adults now aged 26-37 is 22.4%. But the rate is growing, although at different rates, for all age groups. But it is not simply depression. There is a strong and unmistakable link between depression and loneliness -- one-third of those who had experienced loneliness were also currently suffering from depression. It affects work, school, home life, marriage, family, and nearly every aspect of life. Research has shown a significant link between loneliness and social media use -- especially among those who use social media for building or maintaining relationships, and in turn, can exacerbate unhealthy social comparisons or expose users to damaging psychological outcomes such as body image issues, bullying, or lifestyle envy that can be harmful to mental health.
Technology will not lead us out of this pandemic nor will we medicate ourselves out of this problem. Remarkably, those who attend worship weekly or twice monthly show a dramatic decline both in the numbers of those suffering depression and those complaining of loneliness. The peace that passes understanding may actually be a fruit of our life together around the Word and Sacraments of the Lord.
2 comments:
It is said that Martin Luther, although generally outgoing and talkative, also dealt with dark bouts of lifelong depression. One could see it written in his own hand, in his writings, with oft repeated rantings and self criticism, dissatisfaction, and angst. I think the Bible suggests Elijah, and Jeremiah also were depressed. One could attribute it partly to the conditions in Israel, but it was not always a spiritual cause. Sometimes depression can be a fixture of one’s personality and behavior, even an inherited trait, or an enigmatic root of something born out of the way events in life are processed. The hidden chambers of our minds conceal secrets and thoughts which defy disclosure and their origin remains a mystery. My father suffered from depression, but it was suppressed at times, and he often covered his true feelings. Many people I have known over my life were depressed, perhaps not clinically diagnosed, but certainly carried the weight of sadness and melancholy over their lifetime. And this was many decades before the birth of social media and digital devices. Perhaps today, our devices have increased the statistics of depression worldwide. But your point about faith and church worship and fellowship helping one’s positive outlook is noteworthy. I would also add that a daily time in prayer and the reading of the Bible are essential to one’s spiritual and mental well being as a Christian. When we are depressed, remember many of the psalms reflect this condition, and offer the solution to the despairing sinner weighed down by guilt and sin and the perils of life. Psalm 118:169…”Let my cry come before you, O Lord. Give me understanding, according to Your word.” Soli Deo Gloria
Please excuse me. The correct verse quotation is Psalm 119:169, as I erroneously typed Psalm 118.
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