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Tim Watkins
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Stats & Facts

There are over 250,000 people experiencing depression in Wales today. This would fill the Millenium Stadium three and a half times.
At any one time, 5-10% of the UK population suffers from clinical depression (up to 2.3 million people).
Worldwide, 121 million people suffer with depression.
Depression is one of the top 3 causes of disability, and is set to become the second cause of disability worldwide by 2020.
Depression can occur at any time from childhood to old age but is most common between the ages of 22 and 44
Depression affects people from all cultures and backgrounds
People who have depression are four times more likely to develop strokes, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
As many as 3 in 4 cases of depression are nether recognised nor treated.
75% of suicides are committed by people who have been diagnosed with depression.
60% of people with depression lose their jobs and don’t return for an average of 5 years – many never return to full employment.
About half of the people who need treatment for depression will not become depressed again. However, a large minority will have two or three episodes, and a very small number have frequent bouts of depression
One third of all working days lost in the UK for health or other related reasons can be attributed to common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression (that’s over 50 million working days, at a cost of some £4.1 billion).
Overall, the cost of depression to employment as been shown to be 23 times higher than its cost to the health service.
Only 20% of people suffering from depression actually go to their doctor with an emotional problem. The vast majority complain of nonspecific symptoms such as headache, tiredness or vague abdominal pains.