Knowledge of depression

Prevalence of depression in Australia

According to international data, roughly one in four people is likely to experience an episode of depression at some stage during their life. The World Health Organisation estimates that in any year 5.8% of men and 9.5% of women will experience depression. Local studies suggest similar rates in Australia.

Depression affects so many people that the vast majority of us have known or will know a person in the family, at work or in our circle of friends, who will develop depression! Depression therefore concerns us all.

In this section you can get information about depression and the symptoms which accompany it. You can read about what triggers depression and about the different types of depression, as well as how doctors distinguish between them.