Stress. Facts

Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react to particular events. It refers to the consequence of the failure of an organism  to respond appropriately to emotional  or physical threats, whether actual or imagined.

75% of the general population experiences at least “some stress” every two weeks.

Studies show that HIV-infected men are more likely to progress to AIDS if they are under high stress than those with lower levels of stress.

A good belly laugh shuts off the flow of stress hormones which is triggered by our biological “fight or flight” response when we feel stress, anger or hostility.

An estimated 1 million workers are absent on an average workday because of stress related complaints.

Stress contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, and other illnesses in many individuals.

Life today is on average 44% more difficult than 30 years ago based on the number of significant life changes  encountered

Up to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints.

Up to 80% of industrial accidents are due to stress.

In 2009, the top most stressful jobs were a surgeon, commercial airline pilot, photojournalist, advertising account executive, and real estate agent. The least stressful jobs were actuary, dietitian, astronomer, systems analyst, and software engineer.

73 percent of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level.

Stress creates hormonal changes in the human body that can decrease libido and sex response.

When cells shrink due to exposure to stress hormones, they disconnect from each other, which contributes to depression.

While it is a myth that stress can turn your hair gray, stress can cause hair loss.

Stress also contributes to the development of alcoholism, obesity, suicide, drug addiction, cigarette addiction, and other harmful behaviors.

Up to 5 million people in the UK are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressed through work.

Nearly three-quarters of American workers experience frequent stress-related physical or mental conditions that greatly increase health care costs.

Depression. Statistics

Major depressive disorder (also known as clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, or unipolar disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.

Everyone will at some time in their life be affected by depression–their’s or someone else’s, according to Australian Government statistics.

According to the World Health Organization depression second largest killer after heart disease by 2020–and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.

In the United States, approximately 3.4% of people with major depression commit suicide, and up to 60% of people who commit suicide have depression or another mood disorder.

80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.

Major depression is reported about twice as frequently in women as in men, and women attempt suicide more often, although men are at higher risk for completing suicide.

Studies have shown that 80% of those suffering from their first major depressive episode will suffer from at least 1 more during their life, with a lifetime average of 4 episodes.

Evidence from many randomized controlled trials indicates continuing antidepressant medications after recovery can reduce the chance of relapse by 70% (41% on placebo vs. 18% on antidepressant).

Statistics of American depression is 9 million people and rising.

People are most likely to suffer their first depressive episode between the ages of 30 and 40, and there is a second, smaller peak of incidence between ages 50 and 60.

Mixed anxiety & depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain

Depression affects 1 in 5 older people living in the community and 2 in 5 living in care homes in Britain

The UK has one of the highest rates of self harm in Europe, at 400 per 100,000 population

Major depression is currently the leading cause of disease burden in North America and other high-income countries, and the fourth-leading cause worldwide.

In the year 2030, it is predicted to be the second-leading cause of disease burden worldwide after HIV, according to the World Health Organization.

In North America the probability of having a major depressive episode within a year-long period is 3–5% for males and 8–10% for females.

340 million people in the world suffer from depression and rising.

1 in 4 women will suffer from depression 1 in 10 men will suffer from depression (this statistic is not absolutely correct because more women are apt to see their doctor for depression than men do.)

41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help.

54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness.

The researchers in 2004 compared the rates of depression and anxiety disorders in 14 countries, including South American, Asian and one Middle Eastern countries.

Here are the results:

To see the way rate of depression varies along different countries: http://www.cureresearch.com/d/depression/stats-country.htm