Depression in Women

Contrary to popular belief, clinical depression is not a “normal part of being a woman” nor is it a “female weakness.” Depressive illnesses are serious medical illnesses that affect more than 19 million American adults age 18 and over each year. 1 Depression is a treatable medical illness that can occur in any woman, at any time, and for various reasons regardless of age, race or income.
Prevalence
- Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year. 2
- About one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime. 2
- Depression occurs most frequently in women aged 25 to 44. 3
Contributing Factors
- Many factors in women may contribute to depression, such as developmental, reproductive, hormonal, genetic and other biological differences (e.g. premenstrual syndrome, childbirth, infertility and menopause). 4
- Social factors may also lead to higher rates of clinical depression among women, including stress from work, family responsibilities, the roles and expectations of women and increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty. 4
Gender Differences
- Women experience depression at roughly twice the rate of men. 3
- Girls 14-18 years of age have consistently higher rates of depression than boys in this age group. 5
PMS/PMDD
- Twenty to forty percent of women may experience premenstrual syndrome and an estimated 3 to 5 percent have symptoms severe enough to be classified as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). 6
Marriage/Childbirth
- Married people have a lower rate of depression than those living alone. However, unhappily married people have the highest rates of depression; happily married men have the lowest rates. 3
- Approximately 10%-15% of all new mothers get postpartum depression, which most frequently occurs within the first year after the birth of a child. 7
Co-occurring Illnesses
- Research shows a strong relationship between eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia nervosa) and depression in women. 8 About 90-95% of cases of anorexia occur in young females. 9 Reported rates of bulimia nervosa vary from one to three out of 100 people. 6
- Research shows that one out of three depressed people also suffers from some form of substance abuse or dependence. 9
Suicide
- Although men are more likely than women to die by suicide, women report attempting suicide approximately twice as often as men. 10
- An estimated 15 percent of people hospitalized for depression eventually take their own lives. 11
Treatment
- Depression in women is misdiagnosed approximately 30 to 50 percent of the time. 12
- Fewer than half of the women who experience clinical depression will ever seek care. 13
Fortunately, clinical depression is a very treatable illness. More than 80 percent of people with depression can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both. 3
Women’s Attitudes Toward Depression
According to a Mental Health America survey 14 on public attitudes and beliefs about clinical depression:
- More than one-half of women believe it is “normal” for a woman to be depressed during menopause and that treatment is not necessary.
- More than one-half of women believe depression is a “normal part of aging.”
- More than one-half believe it is normal for a mother to feel depressed for at least two weeks after giving birth.
- More than one-half of women cited denial as a barrier to treatment while 41% of women surveyed cited embarrassment or shame as barriers to treatment.
- In general, over one-half of the women said they think they “know” more about depression than men do.
Our Blogs
Support Groups for Depression, Women
Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:24 pm
This group provides support for family and friends of individuals with mental illness.
St. Joseph's Hospital/Breese
9515 Holy Cross Lane
Breese, IL 62230
Contact Information:
618-882-3306
sharon206@prodigy.net
Meeting Details
Meets: 2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Breese-Mater Dei Library, 900 Mater Dei Drive, Breese, IL 62230
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 5:55 pm
City Hope Bible Church
5868 West Florissant Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63120
Contact Information:
Phyllis
314-385-9129
314-383-7771 church
Meeting Details
Call for more information, if needed.
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 12-13-2019 6:14 pm
Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
907 Dock St
St Louis, MO 63147
Contact Information:
Helen or Sarah
314-652-6100
866-525-1442 Friendship Line
hminth@sbcglobal.net
Meeting Details
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:02 pm
Emotions Anonymous International Headquarters
P.O. Box 4245
St. Paul, MN 55104
Contact Information:
651-647-9712
Meeting Details
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 10-21-2021 8:13 pm
Karla Smith Behavioral Health offers this support group for individuals and/or family members whose loved one experiences a mental health diagnosis.
Karla Smith Behavioral Health
200 North Lincoln
O'Fallon, IL 62269
Contact Information:
618-624-5771
Meeting Details
Meets: 1st Thursday of the month; 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Call or visit https://karlasmithbehavioralhealth.org/support-groups for additional information.
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 02-24-2020 8:42 pm
NAMI St. Louis
1810 Craig Road #124
St. Louis, MO 63146
Contact Information:
HELP Line
314-962-4670
800-950-NAMI
info@namistl.org
Meeting Details
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:43 pm
A Christian support group committed to ministering to the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Within an atmosphere of acceptance, compassion, and empathy we offer relevant information, and trustworthy resources related to issues commonly associated with and experienced by those who have a loved one affected by a neurological disorder or a chemical imbalance. We provide a place to share one’s faith in God and one’s personal experiences as we walk a similar path alongside a family member, friend, or loved one living with a serious mental illness.
Central Presbyterian Church
7700 Davis Drive
St. Louis, MO 63105
Contact Information:
Pat Grace
grace1pat@sbcglobal.net
Meeting Details
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 12-13-2019 6:18 pm
Recovery, International
Contact Information:
312-337-5661
866-221-0302
Meeting Details
Email Chuck at johnbeerg13@gmail.com for info about group meetings in St. Louis, Union and Ste. Genevieve, MO.
Visit recoveryinternational.org/meetings/find-a-meeting to locate groups and coordinators anywhere in the country.
Suggest an Update for the Group
Last Modified On: 01-16-2020 4:57 pm
CenterPointe Hospital
4801 Weldon Spring Pkwy
St Charles, MO 63304
Contact Information:
Gregg Sansone
636-236-2267
greggsansone@hotmail.com