For many people living with depression, “fine” may not mean “well”

“I’m fine.” It’s one of the easiest answers to give and one of the hardest to question.

But for millions of people living with major depressive disorder (MDD), “fine” can hide more than it reveals. It can mean getting through the day while still managing fatigue, anxiety, sleep issues, difficulty concentrating or other lingering symptoms—even while on treatment. About
2 in 3 patients taking standard-of-care oral antidepressants continue to experience unresolved symptoms of depression, yet many come to accept “fine” as the finish line.

A new global survey conducted by Johnson & Johnson puts numbers behind this often-invisible burden. Spanning seven countries and four continents, the survey captured responses from 850 adults currently taking an oral antidepressant for MDD and 800 healthcare providers who treat the condition. What emerges is a portrait of a generation that is still carrying the weight of depression symptoms, even as many have come to quietly accept “fine” as enough.

Key findings

The findings point to a critical gap in depression care: treatment may be helping patients improve, but not necessarily helping them feel fully well.

• Feeling “fine” on treatment is accepted as good enough: Nearly 4 in 5 patients believe antidepressants are unlikely to address all of their symptoms or help them reach remission—a point where depressive symptoms significantly improve or go away.
• Ongoing depression symptoms are a significant burden: Almost 3 in 4 patients said their residual symptoms have a real impact on their everyday life. Nearly 90% reported their symptoms affect how they show up at work, and more than half said they isolate themselves from others more frequently than they normally would because of how they’re feeling.
• Patients struggle to talk to their healthcare provider about residual symptoms: Of those who hadn’t raised concerns with their provider, 40% said they don’t have the time or energy to initiate the conversation, and one-third don’t think their provider will have a solution to help address their ongoing symptoms.
  

Residual symptoms can affect every aspect of life

For many respondents, residual depression symptoms are not minor inconveniences. They shape how people move through their days, care for themselves, connect with others and show up at work.

Nearly 3 in 4 people on antidepressants say their ongoing depressive symptoms have a moderate to significant impact on their daily functioning:

• Almost 40% say they have little motivation to do chores or run errands
• About 1 in 3 have trouble taking care of their physical health by exercising or eating healthy
• More than 2 in 5 struggle with focus and productivity
• Nearly half have stopped activities they once enjoyed

Many respondents also described withdrawing socially:

• Nearly half say they struggle to form new friendships or relationships
• More than half say their continued symptoms cause them to isolate themselves from others
• About 2 in 5 say they increase their “doom scrolling” on social media or the Internet
• More than one-third have canceled or stopped initiating plans with family or friends

Nearly 90% of employed respondents said ongoing depressive symptoms have affected how they feel or act at work at least occasionally:

• 37% feel less engaged while working because of their symptoms
• More than one-third have called in sick or taken personal time off
• Nearly 1 in 3 report making more mistakes than usual at work

A communication gap between patients and providers

Healthcare providers remain the leading source of information and support for people living with and treating their MDD. More than half of patients surveyed said they are most likely to seek help from the doctor who prescribes their antidepressants. Yet the survey suggests that even when patients do raise concerns, the conversation may not always lead to the support or clarity they need. While 95% of patients reported discussing residual symptoms with a healthcare provider, only 17% said they were very satisfied with the provider’s response.

Healthcare providers see the gap, too. 84% said patients occasionally or often struggle to communicate what is not working with their treatment. These findings point to an important opportunity: making conversations about ongoing symptoms, treatment goals and remission a more routine part of depression care.

“Fine” should not be the goal of depression care

For many people living with MDD, feeling better is not always the same as feeling well. Some spend years cycling through treatments without reaching remission, while lingering symptoms continue to shape their daily lives. Over time, this can lead people to lower their expectations, accept ongoing symptoms as the “norm,” or stop asking whether improvement is possible.

This is why earlier, more individualized care conversations matter. Optimizing depression care means recognizing when symptoms remain unresolved, discussing what “better” should look like for each person and identifying opportunities to adjust care sooner—so patients can have the best chance of reaching remission and recovery and start feeling like themselves again. It also means challenging the idea that partial symptom relief is enough. In depression care, “fine” should not be the finish line.

About MDD

MDD, or clinical depression, is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and a leading cause of disability worldwide, impacting an estimated 332 million people worldwide —or about 5 percent of the adult population. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 22 million adults are living with MDD. While depression is typically treated with a “one-size-fits-all” approach, no two cases are the same. MDD is a complex, heterogeneous disorder involving multiple regions of the brain and presenting with as many as 256 unique symptom combinations. As a result, responses to treatment vary widely. While oral antidepressants work for some, studies show that about 2 in 3 people living with MDD continue to experience residual or ongoing depressive symptoms while on treatment.

Survey Methodology

Johnson & Johnson conducted a global survey spanning seven countries (U.S., Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Italy and Spain) to better understand the invisible burden of ongoing symptoms people with MDD face while on treatment. The online communications poll, fielded by Wakefield Research from August 6-17, 2025, surveyed 850 adults currently managing their MDD with oral antidepressants and 800 healthcare providers who treat patients with MDD. Mental Health America reviewed the survey results in advance of publication and received compensation for their review.