Depression-Take This Quiz to See if You Have it.

In the United States, depression is the most common mental health disorder. It is a growing trend among young people causing relationship problems, school drop-out, run-aways, and tragically suicides and homicides.
According to the NIH, in 2016, 16.2 million adults age 18 older — almost 6.7 percent of adults — had at least one major depressive episode. 3.1 million adolescents — 19.4 percent of girls and 6.4 percent of boys — have experienced major depression. The adolescent suicide rate has overtaken all other age groups.

Persistent depressive disorder affects about 1.5 percent of the adult population.

Women are significantly more likely to experience depression (8.5 percent) than men (4.8 percent).

Among adults, people between ages 18 and 25 are most at risk for depression (10.9 percent), whereas those older than 50 are at the lowest risk (4.8 percent).

Depression isn’t always experienced as feeling sad but can often come in waves of anger, disinterest in things that were once enjoyed, and pervasive feelings of being overwhelmed. Depression can be psychological, biological, and exacerbated by what you eat and drink. Answer these few questions to see if you might be depressed:

• Do you feel apathetic or lazy, have no interest in normal activities that you once enjoyed?
• Do people easily hurt your feelings or make you angry?
• Do you wish you were someone else?
• Do you constantly feel exhausted?
• Do you think of ending it all—taking your own life?
• Do you feel nothing?

If you answered, “yes,” to 3 out of the questions, you may be depressed. Avoid drugs. Contact a counselor who knows about the effects of good nutrition. I can help Donna@SchullerMinistries.org

If you are suicidal or homicidal, call The National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 immediately.