More than one-third of adults experiencing major depressive episodes did not talk to a care provider

SAMHSA

A new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that 38.3 percent of the 15.2 million U.S. adults who had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year did not talk to a health care provider or an alternative service provider (such as a religious or spiritual adviser). A major depressive episode is defined as a period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and had at least four of seven additional symptoms. Among those who did talk to a health care provider about their depression, 37.4 percent went to a general practitioner or family doctor. Another 20.3 percent of those who sought care spoke to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, and 16.3 percent spoke to a psychologist. “This report shows that too many Americans still needlessly suffer in silence instead of reaching out to providers for help in getting them on the road to recovery through effective treatment and supports,” said Paolo del Vecchio, the director of SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services.

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