Regardless of age, race, or income clinical depression can occur in any woman, and can be serious enough to lead to suicide. The good news is that clinical depression is a treatable medical illness. Women with clinical depression need to know that successful treatments are available. Every Woman Should Know Approximately seven million women in the United States currently have diagnosable clinical depression. Only one out of every three women who experience clinical depression will ever seek care.
Elderly women experience depression more often than elderly men.
Biological differences in women may contribute to depression, such as hormonal changes and genetics. More than one-half of women surveyed believe depression is a normal part of aging. Many women do not seek treatment for depression because they are embarrassed or in denial about being depressed. More than one-half of women surveyed cited denial as a barrier to treatment. No two people experience clinical depression in the same manner.