As of this minute, the U.S. Census estimates the population at 310,477,719.

Researchers believe that in any given year, ten percent of the population will suffer from a major depression. That’s 31,047,771 million suffering Americans.

Researchers also estimate that about 12 percent of the population has alcoholism. That’s 37,257,326 Americans with alcoholism.

Combined, that is 68,305,097 American with alcoholism or in a major depression.

For every person with a mental illness there will be at least three others profoundly affected by the illness. A parent or guardian (another 68,305,097); A spouse/partner/boyfriend/girlfriend (another 68,305,097); A sibling/child/co-worker/friend (another 68,305,097).

When you add all those numbers together you get 273,220,388 Americans who either have depression or alcoholism or are profoundly affected by the illnesses. That is 88% of the population of the United States.

If we include those with other mental illnesses (bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses) and their loved ones, how high would that number go?

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It’s Not THAT Depressing | tedbilich.com (October 14, 2010)

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    Last reviewed: 17 Oct 2010