New Survey Finds Financial Consequences Of Depression Are Seventy-Five Percent Higher Among Floridians Than The National Average

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Bipolar;  Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health
Article Date: 14 Jul 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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The financial consequences of depression are 75 percent higher for Floridians than the national average. Specifically, self-reported credit card debt and negative social consequences attributable to depression contributed more than $19,400 in out-of-pocket costs for Floridians -- approximately $8,300 more than other Americans living with depression.* Results also reveal the significant social burden of depression, given that as few as one-half of respondents reported being satisfied in their relationship with a spouse or partner.

This survey, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, is part of a nationwide effort to examine access to mental health services for those living with depression in five large bellwether states (California, Florida, New York, Ohio and Texas). This effort also explores the social and economic impact of depression on individuals across the United States.

"This study pinpoints exactly how lack of access to adequate treatment harms job prospects, financial situation and personal relationships for a person living with depression," said Richard Durstein, executive coordinator for legislative and government affairs, NAMI Pinellas County. "It is no longer a singular burden carried solely by the individual, but one that a person's family, employer, creditors, and society as a whole share. These findings should provide new impetus for all stakeholders impacted by this disease to ensure that those living with depression have access to optimal treatment."

Results reveal that many Floridians living with depression have symptoms of other related conditions, such as bipolar disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), that have not yet been officially diagnosed. In fact, while 72 percent of respondents indicated the presence of symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder -- a disease that often coexists with depression -- only 23 percent of those respondents had been officially diagnosed.

Additionally, the survey showed that many Floridians living with depression are under-treated. While studies demonstrate that a combination of prescription medication and psychotherapy enable the most effective treatment of depression symptoms, less than one-third of Floridians living with depression are currently receiving both treatments.

The impact of under-treated and under-diagnosed depression is most evident in the personal and professional lives of individuals who report a greater inability to focus at work and on relationships at home.

Specifically, employed survey respondents reported that, in the last 30 days, their work productivity suffered an average of six days, or 20 percent of the month, due to symptoms. At home, 34 percent of respondents reported experiencing some kind of relationship problem due to depression, while 60 percent reported that depression hindered their interaction with their children.

The strain on personal finances also is evident, as nearly a quarter of survey respondents reported that during the last 30 days, they had unpaid bills more than 60 days overdue (23 percent), were afraid they couldn't make their rent/mortgage payment (26 percent), or were unable to afford the necessities of life (25 percent) -- all of which they attributed to depression.

"This survey exemplifies the ways depression can invade your life," said Mary Warner, a Florida resident who has lived with severe depression for 14 years. "This disease has affected every aspect of my daily functioning. There came a point when I could no longer work for a period of more than two or three weeks, causing my finances and personal relationships to unravel. Now that I have found a treatment regimen that works for me, I can cope. I am making strides, able to work part-time periodically, whereas before I wasn't able to work at all. I am able to commit to my family members. I want others to understand the depths of this disease and the important need for treatment and support. Recovery is possible."

About the Survey

This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive(R) among 2,880 people in five state samples (California, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Texas) and among 662 people from a national sample, for a total of 3,542 respondents (aged 18 and older) between March 28, 2006 and April 17, 2006.

The total number of respondents for the state of Florida was 542. In this survey, limited or low access was defined as either having no health insurance, being in a health savings account-qualified health plan where costs are not reimbursed until a high minimum deductible is met (at least $1,050 for individuals and at least $2,100 for a family), being enrolled in a pharmacy benefit plan that provides no coverage for certain brand-name pharmaceutical agents (self-reported data), or being enrolled in a health plan which, respondents claim, either provides no coverage for physician visits, or no coverage for prescription medication.

Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region (for the national sample) and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting also was used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online. With a pure probability sample of 662 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-4 percentage points. Sampling error for sub sample results is higher and varies, however, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

Harris Interactive designed and fielded the survey, analyzed the data and wrote an initial report. Booz Allen Hamilton used the data provided by Harris to estimate the social and economic costs of depression, some of the results of which are reported in this release.

About NAMI

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. Through its affiliates and volunteer members, NAMI works to achieve equitable services and treatment for the millions of Americans living with severe mental illnesses and their families.

Access to mental health services is significantly impacted by public policy decisions made by the state legislature and state government agencies. For a discussion of the current mental health public policy environment in Florida, including a discussion of needed public policy improvements, visit http://www.nami.org/grades.

- Based on the data from the Harris Interactive survey, Booz Allen Hamilton provided an aggregate estimate of the individual cost of depression for treatment and other health-related expenditures. This estimate includes the annual deductible and annual costs of prescription medication and psychotherapy.

NAMI
http://www.nami.org/grades

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