NCJ Number
211428
Date Published
September 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This report estimates the prevalence of lifetime Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among youths aged 12 to 17 years.
Abstract
The 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was distributed to a national sample of youths aged 12 to 17. Included in the survey were questions regarding symptoms of depression, including thoughts of suicide or death. According to the findings, approximately 14 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 years experienced at least one MDE in their lifetime and approximately 7 percent of these youths experienced thoughts of suicide during their worst or most recent MDE. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts differed by gender, with females significantly more likely to experience suicidal thoughts than males. Just less than 3 percent of youths actually tried to commit suicide during their worst or most recent MDE. Table, figures, endnotes