Poll Says 1 in 6 North Americans Have Been Diagnosed With Depression

A public opinion survey conducted by Ipsos Reid for The Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health was released on Februrary 15 when the Roundtable was convened by Ambassador Michael Wilson at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. According to the survey, which involved a representative sample of 1000 Canadians and 1000 Americans, one in six (17 percent) of North Americans have been diagnosed with depression, while 21 percent believe they are depressed, but haven't been diagnosed.

When divided by country, the number of people who had been diagnosed with depression was 14 percent in Canada and 20 percent in the U.S. Diagnosis was more prevalent in females--23 percent vs. 11 percent in males. Income level also had an effect. As income increased, there were fewer diagnoses of depression. Lower levels of education also correlated with higher levels of diagnosis.

One of the most significant differences between the Canadians and those in the U.S. was in the percentage of women diagnosed with depression. While the percentage of men in both countries was similar (11 and 12 percent respectively), 27 percent of women in the U.S. were diagnosed, compared to 18 percent of Canadian women.

In Canada, 22 percent reported thinking that they had been depressed, but had not sought a professional diagnosis, while 21 percent of those in the U.S. reported this.

The participants seemed to have a good understanding of depression's mechanics, with 90 percent of North Americans being aware that depression is due to a chemical imbalance; however, the majority also expressed fears about stigma and discrimination in the workplace. A majority expressed the opinion that employers should make helping depressed employees a priority.

A press release detailing the full results of the survey can be found on the Ispos Reid Web site. A paid subscription is required to access it.