Study: Most People Now View Depression as Health Issue

What a difference two decades can make.

Seventy-three percent of Americans now view depression as a health problem, according to a study by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. That’s almost double the share from 1996, when only 38 percent of people considered depression a health issue.

But while these figures demonstrate a changing attitude surrounding mental health, the stigma hasn’t completely disappeared. The same study found that one in five (18 percent) Americans currently view depression as a personal or emotional weakness – a large share, but down considerably since 1996, when 45 percent of Americans said depression was a personal or emotional weakness.

Survey participants were also asked their opinions about anxiety disorders, with similar results. Today, 71 percent of Americans say they think anxiety is a health problem; 20 percent say it’s a sign of weakness.

Why Views About Depression Are Changing

The dramatic shift in views over the last 20 years may be partially related to efforts led by government agencies, including the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Over the last two decades, suicide prevention in general became a public policy priority. Passage of the Affordable Care Act expanded coverage for mental health and made preventive services including depression screening more readily available. Mental health professionals also turned their attention to recovery-based practice, which empowers patients to live a self-directed life.

The sheer visibility of depression today is likely another factor in people’s evolving opinions. Major depressive disorder affects more than 15 million American adults, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. The survey revealed that nearly two-thirds of participants said they, a family member or close friend have suffered from depression or an anxiety disorder. Of those with a personal connection to depression or anxiety, 78 percent defined it as a health problem, not a weakness.

The increasingly compassionate viewpoint may also be tied to famous faces. Celebrities, including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lady Gaga, have often been vocal about their own mental health struggles.

Why This Survey Matters

For some, admitting to having depression or anxiety can be scary. Some of us fear we’ll be labeled “crazy,” or that no one will understand. But the survey demonstrates something positive: People are adopting a more educated, accepting view of mental illness.

With compassion and understanding from their loved ones and society as a whole, those who suffer may feel more comfortable coming out of the darkness. It feels less daunting to ask for help when you know you won’t be judged. There’s still plenty of work to be done: While diminished, there remains a significant stigma attached to depression and anxiety.

But these findings represent an opportunity to accomplish a larger goal: When we stop thinking of depression and anxiety as weaknesses, we can focus our efforts on helping those in need get proper treatment.

We’re in this together, and the more we can learn about mental illness as a nation and a society, the better off we’ll all be.