HCP’s Ronald Kessler, PhD and other scientists from twenty different institutions worldwide, worked with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Mental Health Survey Initiative to gather data about 89,037 people from 18 different countries from 2000-2005. Interviewers asked respondents about traumatic events, substance abuse, relationships, happiness, and other factors likely to affect mental health.  Kessler et al. found that 21 percent of people in France and 19.2 percent of people in the United States reported experiencing an extended period of depression at some time in their lives. Depression was somewhat higher in wealthier than poorer countries, suggesting that objective life conditions might not be the most important determinants of depression.

Dr. Kessler also highlighted that depression is the third largest factor to lower productivity in the workplace.  For more information about this study please visit the WHO website or the Bloomberg news article.