--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One in six people suffer depression or a…" description: "\"One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. These are not the worried well but those in severe mental pain with conditions cripp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/polly-toynbee-21635_anxiety_one-in-six-people-suffer-depression-or-a_1296935.jpg" --- # One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety… ![“One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. These are not the worried well but those in severe mental pain with conditions crippling enough to prevent them living normal lives.” quote by Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/polly-toynbee-21635_anxiety_one-in-six-people-suffer-depression-or-a_1296935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/polly-toynbee-21635_anxiety_one-in-six-people-suffer-depression-or-a_1296935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/polly-toynbee-21635_anxiety_one-in-six-people-suffer-depression-or-a_1296935.jpg) > “One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. These are not the worried well but those in severe mental pain with conditions crippling enough to prevent them living normal lives.” [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A significant portion of the population endures severe mental illness that severely limits daily functioning. **In simple terms:** Many people suffer disabling mental illness. Key Takeaway Recognize and address severe mental health needs. Themes mental health stigma public policy well‑being Mood concerned empathetic Type informative advocacy When to use this quote - healthcare planning - workplace accommodations - community support - policy advocacy Key Concepts depression anxiety chronic illness social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better support those with severe mental illness? - What barriers prevent people from seeking help? A Different Perspective The statistic may overlook under‑reporting and cultural differences in diagnosis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mental pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-pain/) [Normal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [I think people who suffer from depression, unless it's post-traumatic, are probably going to struggle with it for their whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-think-people-who-suffer-from-depression-unless-it-s-post-traumatic/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I was born with a chronic anxiety about the weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-was-born-with-a-chronic-anxiety-about-the-weather/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [For the price of intelligence as we now know it is chronic anxiety, anxiety which appears to increase—oddly enough—to the very degree that human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/for-the-price-of-intelligence-as-we-now-know-it-is-chronic-anxiety/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“Chronic anxiety is a form of illness. It's not something you bring on yourself by how you feel on any given day. It isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-barnard/chronic-anxiety-is-a-form-of-illness-it-s-not-something-you-bring-on/) [Sara Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-barnard/) > [“Chronic anxiety is systemic; it is deeper and more embracing than community nervousness. Rather than something that resides within the psyche of each one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-h-friedman/chronic-anxiety-is-systemic-it-is-deeper-and-more-embracing-than/) [Edwin H. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-h-friedman/) > [“Left unaddressed, chronic anxiety can disrupt many aspects of development, including a child's capacity to learn and ability to connect socially as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-kambolis/left-unaddressed-chronic-anxiety-can-disrupt-many-aspects-of/) Michele Kambolis > [“You can use your intelligence to fuel chronic anxiety and self-criticism, or you can use it to understand yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/you-can-use-your-intelligence-to-fuel-chronic-anxiety-and-self/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [“Chronic anxiety is a state more undesirable than any other, and we will try almost any maneuver to eliminate it. Modern man is living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-neale/chronic-anxiety-is-a-state-more-undesirable-than-any-other-and-we/) [Robert E. Neale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-neale/) > [Everyone can relate to depression. It touches so many. Suicide is the leading cause of death among teenagers. Statistics show that women suffer from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/everyone-can-relate-to-depression-it-touches-so-many-suicide-is-the/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [“A lot of people who suffer from depression don’t even know they have it. It’s a gradual change. Or at least it was for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/a-lot-of-people-who-suffer-from-depression-don-t-even-know-they-have/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Suffer from depression." That's right. It is suffering. A person does not just have depression. She suffers from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-manning/suffer-from-depression-that-s-right-it-is-suffering-a-person-does-not/) [Martha Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-manning/) > [I think we need to get rid of is improving our minds and our mental health. You know, when when you suffer from depression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-think-we-need-to-get-rid-of-is-improving-our-minds-and-our-mental/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [I suffer depression only in the sense that I am a writer. We don't have proper jobs to go to. We are on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/i-suffer-depression-only-in-the-sense-that-i-am-a-writer-we-don-t/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [I suffer from depression and anxiety, and having a show and having a character that portrays a young woman who is dealing with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-reinhart/i-suffer-from-depression-and-anxiety-and-having-a-show-and-having-a/) [Lili Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-reinhart/) > [“People who suffer from depression have better memory than people who don’t, because part of our ability to survive and not to be depressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-greenwald/people-who-suffer-from-depression-have-better-memory-than-people-who/) Anthony Greenwald ## More by Polly Toynbee > [Most people come to fear not death itself, but the many terrible ways of dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/most-people-come-to-fear-not-death-itself-but-the-many-terrible-ways/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Could a government dare to set out with happiness as its goal? Now that there are accepted scientific proofs, it would be easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/could-a-government-dare-to-set-out-with-happiness-as-its-goal-now/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Openness about death has led to greater care about all aspects of dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/openness-about-death-has-led-to-greater-care-about-all-aspects-of/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Working lives are for the state to influence. Unemployment makes people unhappy. So does instability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/working-lives-are-for-the-state-to-influence-unemployment-makes/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust of women's bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/islam-christianity-and-judaism-all-define-themselves-through-disgust/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Inequality makes everyone unhappy, the poor most of all, and that is well within the remit of the state. More money gives less extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/inequality-makes-everyone-unhappy-the-poor-most-of-all-and-that-is/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [“The strain of engaging emotionally with all that misery was exhausting. The kindness and hard work of the care assistants here was worth far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/the-strain-of-engaging-emotionally-with-all-that-misery-was/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Nothing keeps people together like the exalted conviction that they alone are to be spared that eternal anguish of hell fire to which everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/nothing-keeps-people-together-like-the-exalted-conviction-that-they/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [The best care on earth cannot prevent us all dying in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/the-best-care-on-earth-cannot-prevent-us-all-dying-in-the-end/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [But instead of standing up for reason, our government is handing education over to the world of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/but-instead-of-standing-up-for-reason-our-government-is-handing/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [The strongest predictor of unhappiness is anyone who has had a mental illness in the last 10 years. It is an even stronger predictor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/the-strongest-predictor-of-unhappiness-is-anyone-who-has-had-a-mental/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [People want the right to die at a time of their own choosing. Too many families have watched helplessly as a relative dies slowly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/people-want-the-right-to-die-at-a-time-of-their-own-choosing-too-many/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [This is indeed a clash of civilisations, not between Islam and Christendom but between reason and superstition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/this-is-indeed-a-clash-of-civilisations-not-between-islam-and/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Feminism is the most revolutionary idea there has ever been. Equality for women demands a change in the human psyche, more profound than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/feminism-is-the-most-revolutionary-idea-there-has-ever-been-equality/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [So what really works? Treatments in jail do some good, but it's mostly too late: finding a family and a job or just growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/so-what-really-works-treatments-in-jail-do-some-good-but-it-s-mostly/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) [Explore all 29 Polly Toynbee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. 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