Sadly, yes. Globally, around 5% of adults suffer from depression. In teens and young people, “depression is estimated to occur among 1.1% of adolescents aged 10-14 years, and 2.8% of 15-19-year-olds.” Although this percentage may seem small, adolescents make up one-sixth of the world’s population.
Approximately 7% of young people will be diagnosed with clinical depression by age 15, this rises to 12% in later adolescence.
In early childhood depression affects boys and girls in equal numbers. In the teen years, twice as many girls are affected by depression.
Young people who describe depressed episodes are at an increased risk of ending their lives by suicide. Suicide is the third leading causes of death in the 10-19 age group.