Adults aging in North Carolina will maximize their independence and quality of life by improving mental health and self-management of their chronic diseases.
Percentage of adults ages 65 and older who reported being told by a health professional that they have a depressive disorder (like depression)
Current Value
17.5%
Definition
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the nation’s premier system of health-related telephone surveys that collect state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services. BRFSS completes more than 400,000 adult interviews each year, making it the largest continuously conducted health survey system in the world. This data is from responses to the following question on the BRFSS survey: Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you that you have a depressive disorder, including depression, major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression? Detailed information and disaggregated data from the 2021 survey results can be found here.
Story Behind the Curve
While having more than one chronic condition may increase your risk of having or developing a mental health condition like depression, depression itself is also considered a chronic condition. Rates of depression in North Carolina’s older adult population are some of the worst in the country. North Carolina ranks 48th nationwide in the percent of adults aged 65+ who report being told they have a depressive disorder and rates of depression in this population have grown from 14.0% in 2011 to 18.7% in 2020, indicating that more than 365,000 adults 65+ are struggling with depression across the state.
Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.