Depression’s Hidden Costs, Add-On Costs and
The Actual Costs
“Children or adults who suffer from depression have lower incomes, lower educational attainment and fewer days working each year. They become habitual underachievers.
In fact, these psychological problems lead to seven fewer weeks of work per year, a loss of 20 percent in potential income, and a lifetime loss of $300,000 for each family who has a depressed family member (Smith & Smith, 2010).” (Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., 2010)
It gets worse…
“People who suffer from depression end up with six-tenths of a year less schooling, an 11 percent decrease in the probability of getting married, and a loss (on average) of $10,400 per year in income by age 50 (Smith & Smith, 2010). In fact, there is a 35 percent decrease in lifetime income – due to depression.” (Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., 2010)
That boils down to $28.49 per day that’s not even making it in to your pocket…
“Depression is widespread and it is still getting worse. Twenty percent of the north-American population will suffer from depression at some time during their lives. Sadly, depression hits the young and old alike. Fifty percent of children and adolescents and 20 percent of adults report some symptoms of depression. Even though many kids don’t “qualify” for the clinical diagnosis of depression, they have some of the symptoms that “truly depressed” people have – such as sadness, self-criticism, and the inability to enjoy their lives.
Many of these depressed kids eventually become depressed adults. And, it’s getting worse in recent decades (Kessler and Walters, 1998; Ronald C. Kessler, Avenevoli, & Ries Merikangas, 2001). Kids born after 1960 were significantly more likely to suffer from depression in childhood or adolescence than kids born before 1960 (Klearman, G.L., Weissman,M.M.(1989)). Depression is on the rise – and the costs are escalating.” (Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., 2010)
“20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.” “Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.” “About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”). Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.” “Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age. The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.” (C.M.H.A., 2012)
Now, Consider the Human Costs
“Depression has human costs that we all know of: sadness, sense of isolation, feeling like a burden, inability to enjoy life, and – for 35,000 people every year–suicide (Joiner, 2010). In fact, people who are depressed are 30 times more likely to kill themselves than people who are not depressed (Hawton, 1992). Depressed individuals are five times more likely to abuse drugs. These costs in the quality of life are enough to make us all concerned about depression. They are the human costs; which are widespread and touch almost every family in America.” (Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., 2010)
Now, Add the Significant and Alarming Economic Costs
“Depression is the leading cause of medical disability for people aged 14 to 44 (Stewart, Ricci, Chee, Hahn, & Morganstein, 2003). Depressed people lose 5.6 hours of productive work every week when they are depressed (Stewart, 2003). Eighty percent of depressed people are impaired in their daily functioning (Pratt & Brody, 2008). Fifty percent of the loss of work productivity is due to absenteeism and short-term disability (R. C. Kessler, et al., 1999). In any 30 day period, depressed workers have 1.5 to 3.2 more short-term disability days (Druss, Schlesinger, & Allen, 2001).
People with symptoms of depression are 2.17 times more likely to take sick days (Adler, et al., 2006; Greener & Guest, 2007). And when they are at work their productivity is impaired–less ability to concentrate, lower efficiency, and less ability to organize work. In fact, absenteeism and work performance are directly related to how severe the depression is–the more severe the depression, the worse the outcome. In one study the costs of absenteeism were directly related to actually taking antidepressant medication (Birnbaum, et al., 2010; Dewa, Hoch, Lin, Paterson, & Goering, 2003). Those who took the prescribed medication had a 20 percent lower cost of absenteeism. Depressed people are seven times more likely to be unemployed (Lerner, et al., 2004).
In one of the largest studies of its nature (“The long-term effects of psychological problems during childhood”), children were followed for 40 years to determine the effects of illness and psychological problems on their life chances (Smith & Smith, 2010). Children or adults who suffer from depression have lower incomes, lower educational attainment and fewer days working each year. In fact, these psychological problems lead to seven fewer weeks of work per year, a loss of 20 percent in potential income, and a lifetime loss for each family who has a depressed family member of $300,000 (Smith & Smith, 2010).
People who suffer from depression end up with six-tenths of a year less schooling, an 11 percent decrease in the probability of getting married, and a loss (on average) of $10,400 per year in income by age 50 (Smith & Smith, 2010). In fact, there is a 35 percent decrease in lifetime income–due to depression. The cost for the total group– over one’s lifetime–is estimated at 2.1 trillion dollars (Smith & Smith, 2010). And this does not include the increased cost of medical care that all of us must assume. Depression is a lifelong vulnerability for millions of people. And it’s a national economic crisis.
The cost of depression (lost productivity and increased medical expenses) is $83 billion each year, which exceeds the costs of the war in Afghanistan (Greenberg, et al., 2003). And depression is not a “limited engagement” with a fixed endpoint. These costs reoccur each year, every year, for the foreseeable future. Depression is an ongoing war that we may only recently recognize is a difficult one–but a potentially winnable war.” (Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., 2010)
“The economic cost of mental illnesses in Canada for the health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 – $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability and early death. An additional $6.3 billion was spent on uninsured mental health services and time off work for depression and distress that was not treated by the health care system. In 1999, 3.8% of all admissions in general hospitals (1.5 million hospital days) were due to anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, major depression, personality disorders, eating disorders and suicidal behavior. Sources: The Report on Mental Illness in Canada, October 2002. EBIC 1998 (Health Canada 2002), Stephens et al., 2001.” (C.M.H.A., 2012)
Now, Look At How It Impacts Our Youth
“It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide. Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode. The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million. Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities. Mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children; with Canada’s youth suicide rate the third highest in the industrialized world. Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide. Surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada. In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.” (C.M.H.A., 2012)
Your Quick Introspection:
Take a moment and ask yourself how this problem is affecting you in the following areas and compare yourself to the national averages:
Your Finances:
Do you know what it’s costing you to be depressed?
Did you know that according to NAMI, the average person suffering from depression carries $7068.40 in credit card debt, 19% of people suffering from depression are in debt between $5,000.00 and $24,999.00? On average, these people attribute 30.4% of their debt to depression. 24% of these people have bills more than 60 days over due, 22% reported not being able to afford the necessities of life, 16% report the inability to stop shopping/spending money, 4% are in fear of foreclosure, 19% are in fear of not making their rent/ mortgage payment.
Your Friends and Family:
Do you know how this is affecting your friends and/or your friendships with others? Have you noticed any differences?
Do you know how this is affecting your relationship with your family? If you have children, do you know how this is affecting your children? Have you noticed any differences?
Did you know that according to NAMI, 34% of people suffering from depression have some kind of relationship problem, 9% of people get divorced, 9% result in separation, 6% result in a broken engagement, 25% result in the inability to begin or maintain a romantic relationship?
Did you know that 50% of people suffering from depression have realized that depression hindered their interaction with their children; that 34% have had problems helping their children with their homework, that 43% have had a hard time helping their children with extracurricular activities or sports, 33% have had a hard time cooking or cleaning for their children, 46% have had problems providing emotional support for their children?
Did you know that 43% of people reported a history of depression in their family, 29% reported a history of anxiety in their family, and 16% reported a history of manic depression or bipolar disorder? – Modern views would have you believe that this has to do with genetics but it’s not genetics; it’s environment related…
Your Freedom:
Do you know how this is affecting your freedom? What is it that you used to do that you might not anymore or just plain stopped doing?
Did you know that during the past seven days the average person suffering from depression has missed 9.1 hours of non-work activities (such as social activities, leisure activities, exercise, and sports)? In the last 30 days, their non-work activities were affected during 8.3 days (regular daily activities)
Your Faith:
This one might be a delicate subject for some people and I wouldn’t normally mention it but if you’re religious or spiritual, your faith may or may not have been slowly eroding. Let’s examine how this problem may have been affecting some of your beliefs?
Did you know that 6% report feeling terrible, 15% report feeling unhappy, 16% report feeling mostly dissatisfied? Overall 87% reported anticipating the worst, 91% reported feeling worthless or guilty for no reason, 86% reported consistent sadness, 87% reported irritability, 88% reported nervousness, 94% reported constant worrying, 90% reported feelings of isolation or being uninvolved with family and friends. – These are the feelings that start in your mind and work their way in to your body otherwise known as the mind body connection.
Your Health and Fitness:
How’s your health?
Did you know that 91% reported muscle aches, 90% reported tension, 86% reported restlessness, 81% reported phobias / avoidance of fears, 82% reported heart palpitations, 81% reported shortness of breath, 93% reported trouble sleeping, 86% reported an upset stomach, 69% reported changes in appetite, 74% reported crying, 95% reported low energy or fatigue, 90% reported unexplained pain, 93% reported frequent headaches, 90% reported lack of motivation?
Did you know that 9% reported their health to be poor and 29% reported their health to be fair, 42% reported their health to be good?
Your Fun Factor:
Do you still have fun or is fun out the window these days?
Did you know that 88% reported a loss of interest in their favorite activities, 90% reported a lack of motivation?
Your Work:
Do you know how depression has been affecting your work?
Did you know that during the past seven days the average person suffering from depression has missed 1.6 hours of work activities, in the last 30 days they’ve missed 1.3 days of work activities, in the last 30 days their work productivity has been affected for 6.3 days?
Did you know that 53% reported negative work experiences, 12% missed out on a possible promotion, 14% did not receive raises/bonuses/job opportunities that they should have, 30% used sick days because they couldn’t go in to work, 24% used personal/vacation days because they couldn’t go in to work, 18% quit their job, 11% were fired from their job, 7% were docked pay because of missing work, 26% lost their temper with their co-workers, 4% never work?
Your Education:
If you’re in school or were recently in school, has this affected your education?
Did you know that 48% of students suffering from depression have reported negative school experiences, 15% have dropped out of school, 3% had to be held back in school, 22% didn’t pursue another degree even though they had wanted to, 30% have admitted that their grades suffered, 19% delayed their own schooling, 90% reported trouble concentrating?
Why All The Questions?
These questions are specifically intended to get you to probe around in your mind and see how things used to be and how they are now and how they could be if the problem was gone. Sometimes it takes a bit of thought to identify the size of the gap between what life looks like or used to look like when it was good or great and what it looks like when it’s really bad as it relates to each individual case. For the most part when dealing with depression the gap is pretty darn big and pretty darn pain-full for people experiencing the symptoms and it only gets worse if you don’t address it.
Moving forward, this brings us to how we work to help people… but first a quick story…
There is an old story of a boilermaker who was hired to fix a huge steamship boiler system that was not working well. After listening to the engineer’s description of the problems and asking a few questions, he went to the boiler room. He looked at the maze of twisting pipes, listened to the thump of the boiler and the hiss of escaping steam for a few minutes, and felt some pipes with his hands. Then he hummed softly to himself, reached into his overalls and took out a small hammer, and tapped a bright red valve, once.
Immediately the entire system began working perfectly, and the boilermaker went home. When the steamship owner received a bill for $1,000 he complained that the boilermaker had only been in the engine room for fifteen minutes, and requested an itemized bill. This is what the boilermaker sent him:
For tapping with hammer: $0.50
For knowing where to tap: $999.50
What is really new in AV4TM’s program and methodology is that we have a system. We know exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it for attestable, verifiable, clean, clear and self-evident results.
That means you’ll know and feel the difference once you’ve completed the AV4TM program.
The Mind and the brain are similar to a computer in that they process information. Computers process information from various peripherals (mouse, keyboard, microphone, video camera…) People with the use of their
Mind/brain process information that is provided by the senses (sight, hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling…) When a computer is infected with a virus it’s behavior gets messed up. When a person has an unresolved conflict, their behavior changes and they immediately feel different (usually in a bad way, as listed above).
In that respect you can equate an unresolved conflict to a computer virus and therefore a Mind Virus. If you want to get rid of a computer virus, you can do it in several ways. If you’re a skilled computer programmer you can do it by hand, and if not, then you have to go out and buy an anti-virus program and install it on your computer or get a technician to do it. If you have an unresolved conflict; a Mind Virus, you need someone who can get rid of it for you and put things back the way they should be. It takes an Expert in the Mind.
The symptoms that are present in a person who is experiencing depression tell us that there is an unresolved conflict; a Mind Virus in the person’s mind. The Anti-Virus for The Mind is a program you can put to work and use to rid yourself of the things that are bothering you at a core level by identifying the root cause and fixing the actual problem, which inherently, directly affects the way you feel. There are no drugs or any weird stuff involved.
We help people with a variety of mental illness from depression through grief, PTSD, sexual trauma (rape), anxiety, paranoia, suicidal tendencies, and abuse/trauma cases…
We’ve done our best to reveal the real secrets of depression and to help you understand what’s really going on, if you or one of your loved ones has depression. If you have any more questions, just reach out to us at the following website link and we’ll get on a call together and help you find out what’s really happening in your particular case.
Go to http://consultation.antivirusforthemind.com and apply for a FREE consultation/strategy session with one of our experts.
We’re here to help you get the results you want for yourself.
The Answer to The Missing Link And The Difference That Makes The Difference
One of the most effective programs and methodologies in the world that addresses the root cause, which creates the unresolved conflict, is the Anti-Virus For The Mind Program and Methodology (AV4TM). This is done by decoding and re-encoding the traumatic event(s) in a way that removes the unresolved conflict and therefore inherently removes the symptoms of depression. The nice thing about our method is that it’s “Content Free”. That means that we don’t need you to tell us what happened. We can help you without even having you talk about the traumatic event(s). We work with the structure of the problem, not the symptoms. We make sure that our clients get the best treatment possible, quickly and efficiently. Information is kept completely confidential.
We offer a FREE Consultation/Strategy Session, for pre- admissions in to our program. Please note: the AV4TM program is available by application only and availability is limited. On the following pages are the steps to get a FREE Consultation/Strategy Session.
A.V.4.T.M. Application Guidelines
Dear Reader,
We will not try to sell you on applying for this program. Instead, we will simply tell you who it is for …and who it’s NOT for.
This program IS for:
1. People who suffer from Depression and are currently experiencing symptoms of depression and want it fixed.
2. People who are taking anti-depressants and want a fighting chance of getting off the drugs.
3. People who know they have an unresolved conflict that was brought on by a traumatic event and want it fixed.
This program is NOT for:
1. People who are not depressed.
2. Doctors who want to obtain licensure for the AV4TM program and methodology. We have a separate program for that and it is by invitation only at this time.
Here’s How It Works:
First, you’ll need to click on the link below. Then you’ll be taken to an application where I ask you all sorts of invasive questions about yourself. OK – they’re not that invasive. I’m just really trying to weed out people who don’t really want help here, so that people who want help can get it, fast.
Anyway, the application will come to my office and one of two things will happen.
One, I’ll decide we’re not a good match and I’ll let you know politely. Or two, I’ll decide we MIGHT be a good match and someone from my office will schedule a call to see if we really are.
Nobody will pressure you or hassle you… If you want in, great… If not, no problem… We’re cool either way.
I’m only looking for around 20 people.
I’ll review applications on a first come, first-served basis.
If you want to get rid of depression / traumatic memories quickly and easily, just fill out our form below and we’ll set up a call and help you get the results you want for your self:
Here’s what people have said about our program:
How much better do you feel overall? I feel a million times better.
Did you notice when you did some of the exercises how things changed? Yes and it made me feel like a new person.
Did it give you some insight as to how people think and process information?
It made me understand things. It helped me talk to a friend today; it was easier and a lot better. I had a smile on my face for 90% of my day.
How well did the program make you understand things, on a scale of 1-10? 9.5, it made me feel empowered. I love it.
Is there anything that it didn’t fix? Not that I could think of.
Third Party References:
Adler, D. A., McLaughlin, T. J., Rogers, W. H., Chang, H., Lapitsky, L., & Lerner, D. (2006). Job performance deficits due to depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 1569-1576.
Birnbaum, H. G., Kessler, R. C., Kelley, D., Ben-Hamadi, R., Joish, V. N., & Greenberg, P. E. (2010). Employer burden of mild, moderate, and severe major depressive disorder: Mental health services utilization and costs, and work performance. Depression and Anxiety, 27(1), 78-89.
Dewa, C. S., Hoch, J. S., Lin, E., Paterson, M., & Goering, P. (2003). Pattern of antidepressant use and duration of depression- related absence from work. British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 507-513.
Druss, B. G., Schlesinger, M., & Allen, H. M. (2001). Depressive symptoms, satisfaction, with health care, and 2-year work outcomes in an employed population. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 731-734.
Greenberg, P. E., Kessler, R. C., Birnbaum, H. G., Leong, S. A., Lowe, S. W., Berglund, P. A., et al. (2003). The economic burden of depression in the United States: How did it change between 1990 and 2000? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64, 1465-1475.
Greener, M. J., & Guest, J. F. (2007). Do antidepressants reduce the burden imposed by depression on employers? CNS Drugs, 19, 253-264.
Hawton, K. (1992). Suicide and attempted suicide. Handbook of affective disorders. E. S. Paykel. New York, Guilford Press: 635-650 Joiner, Thomas Myths about suicide. Cambridge, MA, US: Harvard University Press. (2010). 288 pp.
Kessler, R. C., Avenevoli, S., & Ries Merikangas, K. (2001). Mood disorders in children and adolescents: An epidemiologic perspective. Biological Psychiatry, 49(12), 1002-1014.
Kessler, R. C., Barber, C., Birnbaum, H. G., Frank, R. G., Greenberg, P. E., Rose, R. M., et al. (1999). Depression in the workplace: Effects on short-term disability. Health Affairs, 18, 163-171.
Kessler, Ronald C. and E. E. Walters, “Epidemiology of DSM-III-R major depression and minor depression among adolescents and young adults in the National Comorbidity Survey,” Depression and Anxiety 7 (1998): 3
Klearman, G.L.,&Weissman,M.M.(1989).Increasingratesofdepression. Journal of the AmericanMedicalAssociation,261(15),2229e2235
Lerner, D., Adler, D. A., Chang, H., Lapitsky, L., Hood, M. Y., Perissinotto, C., et al. (2004). Unemployment, job retention, and productivity loss among employees with depression. Psychiatric Services, 55(12), 1371-1378.
Pratt, L. A., & Brody, D. J. (2008). Depression in the United States household population, 2005-2006: NCHS Data Brief Number 7.
Smith, J. P., & Smith, G. C. (2010). Long-term economic costs of psychological problems during childhood. Social Science & Medicine, 71, 110-115.
Stewart, W. F., Ricci, J. A., Chee, E., Hahn, S. R., & Morganstein, D. (2003). Cost of lost productive work time among US workers with depression. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289, 3135-3144.
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