Depression Among Seniors Increases Nationwide, CT's Rate Among Lowest

The prevalence of depression among seniors increased 19 percent nationwide between annual data reports issued in 2018 and 2019, from 13.4 to 16.0 percent of adults aged 65+. The increase was 23 percent during the past six years, from 13.0 percent.  While depression among seniors has been increasing across the U.S, the levels in Connecticut are among the lowest in the nation.  

Nationwide, depression increased by 18 percent among females (from 16.0 to 18.8 percent) and 23 percent among males (from 10.2 to 12.5 percent). According to data developed for a comprehensive national report released earlier this year, among seniors, females have a higher prevalence of frequent mental distress and depression, while males have a higher suicide rate.

Depression among seniors is often underreported and underdiagnosed despite being associated with worsening cognitive, physical and social functioning and other important health outcomes, according to America’s Health Ranking, Senior Report, produced annually by the United Health Foundation.   

Depression is the percentage of adults aged 65 and older who report being told by a health professional they have a depressive disorder. The national rate has climbed nationally to 16%; Connecticut is below the national average at 13.2%.  The states with the lowest rates of depression among seniors are South Dakota (10.7%), New York (12.2%), Delaware (12.9%), Pennsylvania (13%), Georgia (13%), North Dakota (13.2%) and Colorado (13.5%),

Frequent mental distress is the percentage of adults aged 65 and older reporting 14 or more days of poor mental health in the past 30 days. Frequent mental distress captures those experiencing persistent and likely severe mental health issues, according to definitions used in developing the report.  Depression is 1.50 times higher among females (18.8 percent) than males (12.5 percent). The report found that among seniors, an estimated 5.4 million females and 2.8 million males indicated having depression.

More than 50 million seniors live in the United States, an increase of 45 percent since 2000. Since 2002, the “young senior” population has grown by more than 11 million individuals to nearly 30 million adults aged 65 to 74 in 2017. Seniors aged 65 to 74 account for 9.1 percent of the U.S. population, compared with 6.4 percent in 2002.

Since 2016, the prevalence of frequent mental distress has been consistently higher among females than males. In 2019, an estimated 2.4 million female and 1.5 million male seniors reported frequent mental distress. In the year prior to the study’s release, frequent mental distress among males increased 15 percent from 5.9 to 6.8 percent and remained stable among females.

Overall, Connecticut ranked in the top five Healthiest States for seniors, at number three.  Other states in the top five are Hawaii (No. 1), Utah (No. 2), Minnesota (No. 4) and Colorado (No. 5).  Connecticut has consistently been in the top 10 for more than 20 consecutive years, as high as number two as recently as 2008 and 2006.  The state ranked third in 2017 and fifth in 2018 before rebounding in the latest report.

Thirty-four measures were used to calculate the senior state health rankings.  The healthiest states are spread throughout the West, Midwest and New England, and the states with the most challenges are concentrated in the South, the report’s analysis found.