Text Link

Learn more about the results we get at Within

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Learn more about the results we get at Within

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

October is National Depression Awareness Month: How to find support

October is National Depression Awareness Month in the United States, with National Depression Screening Day falling on October 8 and World Mental Health Day occurring on October 10, 2024. The purpose of this observance is to bring awareness to this mental health disorder and encourage people to seek out screening and treatment. Depression can occur alone, but often, it may co-occur with other psychiatric conditions, such as eating disorders. This is known as a dual diagnosis and requires specialized and integrated care.

5
 minute read
Last updated on 
September 16, 2024
National Depression Awareness Month
In this article

Depression and treatment rates in the U.S.

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD), is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the U.S., affecting about 21 million adults throughout the country. This figure represents over 8% of adults in the U.S.1 Here are some other relevant stats related to depression and treatment:1

  • Biracial people reported the highest rates of major depression, with nearly 16%.
  • Adult women reported higher rates of major depressive episodes than adult men.
  • The age group with the highest rates of major depression was adults between 18 and 25.
  • More than 4 million U.S. adolescents between 12 and 17 struggle with depression.
  • Teen girls experience depression at about triple the rate that teen boys do.
  • Much like adults, adolescents with two or more races reported the highest rates of major depressive episodes.
  • In 2020, nearly 3 million adolescents experienced a major depressive episode with severe impairment in functioning.
  • In 2020, nearly 42% of adolescents received treatment for their depression in the past year.
  • In 2020, about 66% of U.S. adults received treatment for depression in the past year.
  • In 2020, approximately 71% of depressed adults experiencing severe dysfunction received treatment in the past year.

Although many people do seek out and receive the treatment they need to recover from depression and learn adaptive coping skills, many individuals still aren’t able to access quality care. This is due to many barriers to treatment, such as finances, lack of health insurance, lack of transportation or other geographical barriers, stigma, and more. Additionally, other mental health disorders, such as eating disorders, can complicate depression and make it harder for someone to reach out for help.

The connection between depression and eating disorders

Depression and eating disorders commonly co-occur. In fact, about 42% of people with anorexia, 71% of individuals with bulimia, and 46% of those with binge eating disorder have a co-occurring mood disorder, which depression falls under.2

The connection between these two conditions is not entirely understood, though experts offer several explanations or theories. The reason the relationship isn’t clear is because both of these disorders are complex and multi-faceted, caused by a myriad of biological, sociological, and psychological risk factors and influences. It’s already impossible to determine a single cause of an eating disorder or major depressive disorder, let alone when these conditions co-occur.

Plus, each eating disorder is distinct and affects people differently. For example, malnourishment in those with anorexia may trigger neurological changes that can increase a person’s risk of experiencing depression. Not to mention, eating disorder symptoms like weight and appearance obsession, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and body surveillance can contribute to depressive symptoms or mood.3 Further, people experiencing eating disorders often struggle with shame, guilt, and isolation, all of which can trigger depression or increase its severity. 

On the other hand, the symptoms of major depressive disorder could contribute to eating disorder development, especially if a person isn’t equipped with healthy coping strategies. They may turn to disordered eating behaviors, such as binging, purging, restricting, and excessive exercise in order to cope with negative mood or unwanted emotions. Lastly, depression can affect a person’s appetite and weight, which can contribute to an unhealthy relationship with eating, movement, or both.

{{link-bank-two-column}}

Getting integrated care for a dual diagnosis

Co-occurring depression and an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia is known as a dual diagnosis. When left untreated, depression and an eating disorder can fuel one another, ultimately leading to more complications. In fact, research shows that co-occurring depression in people with eating disorders are associated more severe symptoms, a poorer course of the condition, and “burden of illness,” which focuses on the hardships and complications caused by the eating disorder.6

Plus, eating disorders and major depressive disorder have some shared symptoms, such as worthlessness, guilt, irritability, hopelessness, and suicidality.4,5 These shared symptoms can contribute to both the development of co-occurring eating disorders and depression as well as the maintenance of these conditions.

Because these conditions fuel one another, a dual diagnosis requires integrated and comprehensive care that treats both the eating disorder and the depression concurrently. Otherwise, if a person receives treatment for depression but not an eating disorder they may continue disordered eating behaviors that could trigger a depressive episode. The opposite is also true—if someone receives eating disorder treatment without addressing their depression then their depression could trigger an eating disorder relapse.

Healing requires intensive treatment, typically in an inpatient or residential setting where individuals can receive a high frequency of care from a variety of treatment professionals, such as:

  • Psychiatrists
  • Therapists
  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Dietitians
  • Social workers
  • Movement therapists
  • Art therapists

Other intensive treatment options include partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which offer several hours of treatment per day but still allow patients to return home during non-treatment hours. This option allows for more flexibility during recovery but often necessitates a strong support system and high patient motivation. 

Sometimes people don’t always find the right level of care the first time around. If you enter a treatment program for depression and an eating disorder and find that you need more support, you can always step up to an inpatient program. Meanwhile, if you complete a residential program but still need professional support, you can make your way through the continuum of care and step down to an outpatient program. The most important thing is that you receive specialized treatment that will take all of your individual needs into consideration.

Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.

Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.

Resources

  1. Major depression. (July 2023). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved October 11, 2022 from 
  2. Eating disorders. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  3. Pleplé, A., Lalanne, C., Huas, C. et al. (2021). Nutritional status and anxious and depressive symptoms in anorexia nervosa: a prospective study. Scientific Reports, 11, 771.
  4. Depression. (2022). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  5. Smith, A. R., Zuromski, K. L., & Dodd, D. R. (2018). Eating disorders and suicidality: what we know, what we don't know, and suggestions for future research. Current Opinion in Psychology, 22, 63–67. 
  6. Sander, J., Moessner, M., & Bauer, S. (2021). Depression, Anxiety and Eating Disorder-Related Impairment: Moderators in Female Adolescents and Young Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2779.

FAQs

Further reading

October is National Depression Awareness Month: How to find support

October is National Depression Awareness Month in the United States, with National Depression Screening Day...

Dual diagnosis eating disorder treatment

While most forms of therapy were originally designed to treat a specific type of mental health disorder, some

OCD and binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by eating a large amount of food in a short period of time...

The link between medical trauma and eating disorders

When people think of traumatic events, they likely think of a one-time terrifying or disturbing event, such...

PTSD and eating disorders

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders commonly co-occur, which can complicate recovery...

Complex trauma and eating disorders

You may be familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is an anxiety disorder that results...

Eating disorders and neurodivergence

Once thought of primarily as social diseases, eating disorders are now much better understood, with...

The relationship between bulimia and anxiety

Co-occurring mental health conditions are common among individuals who live with...

Borderline personality disorder and anorexia nervosa

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and eating disorders, such as anorexia...

Bulimia and alcohol addiction

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder associated with multiple negative...

What is stress-induced anorexia?

People with anorexia nervosa (AN) often experience high anxiety and stress levels...

How to stop anxiety eating

If you turn to food when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, you’re not...

Unpacking anorexia and insomnia

The connection between anorexia nervosa (AN) and insomnia is complex. Researchers haven’t identified...

Understanding depression and eating disorders

When someone enters treatment for an eating disorder, it is important they receive...

Treating ARFID and autism

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that involves extreme picky eating...

The relationship between anxiety, depression, and overeating

Food is one of the most essential aspects of life, not only needed for survival, but involved deeply in...

The relationship between anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorders

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder in which individuals are concerned about...

The relationship between ADHD and binge eating disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder (BED)...

Sleep and eating disorders

Sleeping and eating share a very intimate relationship, as they are both essential...

How does OCD and eating disorders interact

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders are two distinctive conditions...

Food maintenance syndrome (foster care)

Food maintenance syndrome is an eating disorder common in children in foster care...

Food aversion and OCD

When we think of eating disorders, we often imagine someone who has anorexia nervosa...

Eating disorders and co-occurring disorders

On their own, eating disorders are serious mental illnesses. But they are often accompanied by co-occurring...

Eating disorders and addiction

Eating disorders like binge eating disorder, atypical anorexia nervosa, and bulimia...

What is body dysmorphic disorder?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious condition that involves a preoccupation with physical appearance.

Anxiety and binge eating

Most people will "overeat" at some point in their lives, indulging in a large meal or an extra round of...

Postpartum depression and binge eating disorder

Postpartum depression is a common mental health condition that affects...

Further reading

No items found.