A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that depression is now more common among Americans than ever before, with treatment rates falling short despite growing awareness—a development that brings important lessons for health policymakers and families across Thailand. The report, based on data from 2021 to 2023, found that over one in eight Americans aged 12 and older have experienced depression recently, almost double the rate reported just a decade ago. Yet, only about 40% of those affected pursued counseling or therapy for their symptoms, highlighting a persistent gap between need and access to care (CNN).
The findings matter profoundly for Thai readers, as Thailand, like many countries, faces rising mental health challenges in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The US data provides a window into the social trends, public health strategies, and individual struggles tied to depression—issues likely mirrored in Thai society, where stigmas and limited resources often contribute to untreated mental illness. According to the CDC report, depression prevalence among Americans rose from 7.3% in 2015-16 to more than 13% in 2021-23, driven in part by pandemic-related stressors and improving openness about mental health (CDC). Researchers emphasize that this jump may be a combination of both real increases in mental illness and greater willingness to report symptoms as stigmas decline.
Experts cited in the report express concern about these rising numbers. Dr. Matt Mishkind, deputy director of the Johnson Depression Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, notes, “I think the world is a difficult place right now. There’s been stressor after stressor after stressor for a long time now, and I think that is starting to truly affect people.” While social awareness and conversations about depression are gaining ground, access to care hasn’t kept pace. About 88% of people with depression in the survey said their symptoms affected their ability to work, study, or maintain social relationships, with around one-third calling the impact “very to extremely difficult.”
The report highlights striking disparities by gender and age. Women and teenage girls are most likely to report depression symptoms, with more than one in four adolescent girls aged 12 to 19 screening positive—a figure echoed in the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, where over half of US high school girls described feeling persistently sad or hopeless. In comparison, about 16% of adult women and 10% of adult men had depression during the same period. Women were also more likely than men to seek therapy (43% versus 33%) and to take prescription medications for depression (15% versus 7.4%).
This gender pattern offers insight for Thai families and educators, as recent studies suggest Thai youth are experiencing increasingly high rates of anxiety and depression, with girls typically reporting higher levels of emotional distress (Thai PBS World). Dr. Jill Emanuele, vice president of clinical training at the Child Mind Institute in New York, explains: “Girls are more verbal and vocal about some of their challenges, traditionally; boys are not as much, although I think that is changing.”
The CDC report also touches on medical treatment trends. Prescription rates for antidepressants have remained relatively stable since 2018, despite heightened awareness of mental health. In 2023, roughly 11.4% of US adults took depression medication. Interestingly, these prescriptions did not increase as sharply as depression rates, and data from the analytics company Truveta suggest any rise in prescriptions during the pandemic was temporary. This finding counters political narratives suggesting rampant overprescribing of drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); in reality, the careful tracking of prescriptions suggests prescribers remain cautious.
These US trends resonate with Thailand’s own uphill battle to expand mental health services. According to the Department of Mental Health, as of 2023, an estimated 1.5 million Thais suffered from depression, but less than a third received professional help (Bangkok Post). Challenges include stigma, a shortage of psychiatrists (especially outside Bangkok), and barriers in accessing counseling or medication through the National Health Security Office (NHSO). For many Thais—especially in rural areas—mental distress is often kept private or discussed in the temple, rather than in the clinic.
Historically, mental health has carried a heavy stigma in both Thai and American culture, often seen as a private family matter or a source of shame rather than a medical issue, and this reticence continues to shape how people seek care. While openness is slowly increasing, with schools and universities offering more mental health resources and campaigns like the “Good Mind Project” (โครงการจิตดี) gaining traction, far too many Thais still lack basic services. With major cultural festivals such as Songkran, the emphasis on family harmony can sometimes mask or brush aside the emotional struggles that some family members may silently face.
Globally, the picture is complex. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 280 million people worldwide live with depression (WHO), and the pandemic has exacerbated stressors like job loss, isolation, and disruption to daily life. Rising screen time, social media use, and societal pressures have all been associated with increased risk, particularly for adolescents—a trend evident in both the latest US data and recent Thai research (NCBI).
Looking ahead, the US experience suggests several directions for Thailand. First, simply raising awareness isn’t enough; expanding access to care, integrating mental health into primary care, and training teachers to recognize warning signs are crucial. Efforts to reduce stigma should also include targeted messages that reach young men and rural communities—groups often left out of mental health conversations. Additionally, policymakers may need to address the digital drivers of mental health issues by fostering digital literacy and balanced technology use among Thai youth.
For everyday Thais, the most practical takeaway is that depression can strike anyone—and seeking help should be viewed as a sign of strength, not weakness (‘เข้มแข็งไม่ใช่อยู่คนเดียว’, as some Thai advocates say). Families and teachers should encourage open dialogue about emotions and stress, checking in regularly with teens who may be suffering silently. Employers can foster supportive work environments and ensure that employee health plans include access to mental health care.
As Thailand celebrates traditional strengths of community and compassion (‘เมตตา’), now is the time to bring these values into the mental health sphere—moving beyond old stigmas and ensuring everyone, regardless of region, gender, or age, feels empowered to seek help. For those feeling overwhelmed, resources such as the Department of Mental Health hotline 1323 and local clinics offer a lifeline. Ultimately, the US experience shows both the dangers of rising depression and the hope found in growing openness and innovation. By learning these lessons, Thailand can chart a path toward better national wellbeing.
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