National Depression Screening Day and National Bipolar Awareness Day

As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, today is both National Depression Screening Day and National Bipolar Awareness Day. It’s all part of a larger effort to raise awareness about the mental conditions that affect the lives of millions of people around the world.

So what are the stats on depression?[1]

• Depression affects as many as ten percent of all people in the United States, an incredible 30 million people
• One out of four young adults will experience a depressive episode by age 24
• 10% to 15% of all depressions are triggered by other medical conditions (such as thyroid disease, cancer or neurologic problems) or by medications

Here are the facts about bipolar disorder:[2]

• More than 10 million Americans are living with this condition, which is characterized by extreme mood swings and intense emotional states
• More than half of patients are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 25
• Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally

But at PatientsLikeMe, we know that patients aren’t just a statistic, and that facts don’t tell the whole story. Your journey is unique, and this is why more than 15,000 PatientsLikeMe members with depression and more than 4,000 with bipolar disorder are sharing their stories with the greater mental health community and talking about what it’s actually like to live with these two conditions. In the past, you told us what depression feels like, and today, we are raising awareness for depression and bipolar disorder and learning to live better. Click here to sign in and share your experience today.