Depression Is a Pandemic. Let's Use the Lessons of COVID-19 to Find Treatments

Until recently, major depression has felt like a ghost disease — invisible but devastating. It’s a disorder that affects millions every year — 1 in 4 of us will suffer a depressive episode in their lifetime. In April, a team at the Indiana University School of Medicine published news about a promising new blood test that can reveal how severe a patient’s depression may be, the risk of developing severe depression, and even the risk of future bipolar disorder. This breakthrough using RNA biomarkers will get us closer to more precise and effective treatments and is just one example of a whole slew of biomarkers for depression that researchers have been uncovering. Crisis is not too strong a word: the CDC reported that U.S. adults with recent symptoms of anxiety or a depressive disorder rose to 41.5% in February. This effort could include an ‘operation warp speed‘ type-accelerator for this biomarker research, plus an infusion of resources to provide universal access to therapists and existing treatments right now. Given that all of us know someone or are someone who’s battled this disease, it’s everyone’s issue. The mental health moonshot we need would provide hope and that in and of itself might save lives.

The article includes the following links in the resource section: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); NAMI Connection is a support group for people with mental health conditions. Groups meet weekly, every other week or monthly, depending on location. Find the NAMI Connection support group nearest you; NAMI Family Support Group is a support group for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Groups meet weekly, every other week or monthly, depending on location. Find the NAMI Family Support Group nearest you; The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., ET at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org.