Major Depressive Episodes

Percent of People Experiencing a Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the Prior 12 Months, by Age Range

In 2019, using data on over 600,000 people from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, researchers demonstrated that mood disorders and suicidality increased significantly in the US since the mid-2000s, largely driven by adolescents and young adults. Specifically, rates of major depressive episodes increased 52% among adolescents and 63% among young adults between 2005 and 2017. Serious psychological distress and suicide-related outcomes also increased among young adults from 2008 to 2017. The increase among adults over age 26 was much smaller and less consistent. The researchers of the study hypothesize that these trends are mostly due to changes in cultural factors, such as the rise of electronic communication and digital media and declines in sleep duration, which have had a greater impact on younger people. To learn more about the decline in adolescent and young adult mental health, visit our page about Modern Society, Mental Health, and Well-Being.