Distress More Likely in New York, Study Finds

NY Times ^ | April 10, 2006 | SEWELL CHAN

[neverdem]

Nearly 1 in 7 adults in New York City described their mental health last year as being frequently "not good," compared with 1 in 10 adults in a comparable national survey, according to data being released today by the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The findings, from the city's community health survey, a telephone poll of 10,000 randomly selected adults conducted each year since 2002, confirm what many New Yorkers suspect — that life in the nation's most populous city can be difficult and lonely.

Thirteen percent of adults who answered the city's survey last year reported that their mental health was "not good" on 14 or more days of the month, compared with 10 percent in a similar national survey that measured "frequent mental distress," like stress, depression or other emotional problems. The data will be presented today in a conference at Hunter College organized by Dr. Neal L. Cohen, a former city health commissioner.

Dr. Lloyd I. Sederer, the executive deputy commissioner for mental hygiene at the health department, said he believed that the higher rate of "frequent mental distress" reported by city residents was statistically significant, although the precise reasons were not clear. "I wish we knew, in a way that we could say with confidence, why that difference is," he said.

The survey also contains a separate set of questions, which asked adults whether in the past month they had felt hopeless, nervous, worthless or restless; whether they had felt so sad that nothing could cheer them up; and whether they had felt that "everything was an effort." Those questions, developed by Ronald C. Kessler, a Harvard Medical School professor, measure "nonspecific psychological distress."

The department, in a paper that is also being presented today at Hunter College, found that rates of such psychological...

[neverdem]

It should be compared to other large cities, not the nation as a whole. What do cities have besides more people and lawbreakers? How about more laws and regulations to make people go nuts?

[Uncle Miltie]

Liberal disease

[bigLusr]

I've also seen polls that Republicans are happier than Democrats. It makes sense, then, that bluer areas of the country would correlate with "not good" mental health.

[djf]

The whole urban megalopolis environment is, IMHO, quite contrary to what humans are genetically and emotionally prepared to deal with.

When I get stressed, I go stick my hands in the dirt and work in my garden. Had some lettuce plants go to seed last year, I'm gonna have to get a goat to take care of all the lettuce I got, it's even growing in my front yard!

[Vision]

Nearly 1 in 7 adults in New York City described their mental health last year as being frequently "not good,"

Shocking

[D-Chivas]

Thirteen percent of adults who answered the city's survey last year reported that their mental health was "not good" on 14 or more days of the month

Or it could represent all the Republicans in New York City and the pain of having to deal with so many liberal idiots around them.

[GSlob]

I remember reading it years ago somewhere that when they kept increasing the rat density in cages, after certain threshold the rats went psychotic. Now, considering the RAT density in NYC, is it any wonder?

[Firefigher NC]

You couldn't pay me enough to live in a huge city for long.

[kittymyrib]

So, out of seven million New Yorkers, one million recognize themselves as mentally ill. Surely another million or two don't recognize mental illness, though they have it. This explains why Hillary and Chuckie are NY senators.

[eleni121]

I call it the LCS--Liberal Crackpot Syndrome...a virus having its origins in the works of Marx/Engel/ and the French delusionals of the 18th century.

It is especially prevalent in the Northeast in dying, overtaxed cities and towns, where it lingers among the population that remains...the best and healthiest minds having already left for greener, fresher, healthier pastures in the red states.

[Mikey_1962]

On the other hand, its Spring here in rural Ohio, and we're doing quite well, thank you very much!

[Dick Vomer]

that life in the nation's most populous city can be difficult and lonely.

whiny liberal p@ssies...that's all

[GSlob]

"So, out of seven million New Yorkers, one million recognize themselves as mentally ill. Surely another million or two don't recognize mental illness, though they have it. "
The question to these New Yorkers should have been phrased differently - not whether they recognise themselves as being out of phase, but whether they recognise others [and how many of these others] as being so. You would start getting the true picture immediately.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Someone published a report 40 years ago that said most NooYawkers are flat out crazy! Nothing has changed.

[Chode]

bingo...

[Clemenza]

This surprises you?

Let's just say that I often feel like these guys:

[durasell]

Aw, look at how young they look!