LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A recently released poll focusing on depression awareness in the Bluegrass State offers insight into a burgeoning regional issue affecting Appalachian adults.

According to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) report, half of Kentucky adults say they know someone who has a serious problem with depression, and nearly seven in 10 say they know who to contact for treatment.

However, government statistics show just 47 percent of people suffering with a mental illness get treatment or counseling.

KHIP, an annual poll of Kentucky adults about health issues, sheds light on the fact that depression cases are far from declining — at least in this part of the Appalachian Basin. The poll is funded jointly by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Interact for Health.

According to KHIP, Kentucky adults under the age of 65 were more likely to report knowing someone they thought was depressed. Those living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level were more likely than those with higher incomes to know someone with depression. 

“Depression is common in Kentucky, as it is elsewhere in the country, and it’s important to understand that it is a serious mood disorder that can and should be treated,” Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President and CEO Ben Chandler said. “Knowing where to find help is an important first step in getting treatment or counseling, but lack of health insurance and access to integrated care can be a barrier for those trying to get help.”

Nationally, major depression is considered one of the most common mental disorders among adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In 2015, about 16.1 million adult Americans 18 or over reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year.

In Appalachia, increases in depression and drug abuse have been linked to factors prevalent throughout the region like poverty and unemployment. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five Kentucky adults reported ever being told by a health provider that they have a form of depression. In Kentucky, as with the nation, fewer than half  —47 percent) — of adults with a mental illness receive mental health treatment or counseling.

Last year, a study by the Appalachian Regional Commission found a higher proportion of Appalachian adults than in the nation as a whole reporting serious psychological distress and major depressive disorders.

The Ashland, Kentucky Daily Independent contributed to this story.