When Your Brain Goes Crash - Dealing with Depression - Page 3

According a National Mental Health Association survey involving 1,319 in-depth interviews, only 18 percent of the American adult depressed population (of 19 million) has ever received a diagnosis. Other findings:

• Even though 44 percent of those who are undiagnosed say their symptoms cause significant emotional pain and restricted function in their daily lives, 93 percent do not associate their symptoms with a mental health disorder.

• Forty-four percent of the undiagnosed believe their symptoms are self-manageable.

• Twenty-eight percent of the undiagnosed won't go to a doctor because of limited or no insurance coverage.

• Forty-two percent of those with a formal diagnosis say they are embarrassed or ashamed by their symptoms, and 16 percent are afraid to talk to their friends.

• Only 55 percent of diagnosed people expect treatment will provide even initial treatment relief.

• Fifty-one percent of those diagnosed say they are not where they want to be in terms of remission

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