Depression, Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being Among Older African Americans: A Selective Review of The Literature

Many people regard depression as a character flaw or personal weakness. However, depression is a serious medical problem and public health concern in America. The economic cost of this illness has been estimated to be between $30-44 billion annually, and affects nearly 18 million adults each year. Depression is not simply having the blues, or having transitory feelings of sadness. It often involves continual pain, suffering, and dysfunction and is common among older persons (Greenberg, et al., 1994; Rice et al., 1988). Despite being a common, treatable illness, few individuals older than the age of 65 are treated for this disorder (Zylstra & Steitz, 1999; Reynolds, 1994).