Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

We've got the blues: Report labels Utah most depressed state in nation
Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 11/28/07

Posted on 11/28/2007 2:43:26 PM PST by colorcountry

Posted: 11:31 AM- Utah is the most depressed state in the country, according to a national analysis released Wednesday by mental health care advocates.
    The report card by Mental Health America was funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and draws together federal health data. Utah ranked 51st for its "depression status," based on national surveys conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
    In 2004 and 2005, slightly more than 10 percent of adults and adolescents in Utah reported they had a major depressive episode.
    In 2004, Utah reported 377 deaths by suicide. That number, adjusted for age and population, ranked it 45th in the nation, the report said.
    An average of 315 Utahns die by suicide each year. Utah launched a five-year suicide prevention plan in May, an effort that focuses on raising awareness through ads and providing support groups.
    The report instead suggests states improve access to care, and provides statistics on each state's mental health resources and policies.
    Mental Health America, formerly known as the National Mental Health Association, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people live mentally healthier lives.
    "Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States" is now available at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Idaho; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: depression; ldsculture
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
Ah but they are such good, and happy people!
1 posted on 11/28/2007 2:43:28 PM PST by colorcountry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: colorcountry
I've spent time in Utah, and have friends there. I've spent time in New Jersey, and have friends there. Since this so-called study rates Utah as "more depressed" than New Jersey, I conclude it is a fraud. I note that Utah is one of the most conservative states and most Republican ones. Could there be a political bias in the questions asked and the rating of the responses?

Ya think?

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "A World Full of Pinocchio"

A Freeper in Congress? Click here. Act now.

2 posted on 11/28/2007 2:49:24 PM PST by Congressman Billybob (www.ArmorforCongress.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

probably means the queers at Mental Health America don’t think there’s enough homosexuals in utah.


3 posted on 11/28/2007 2:50:08 PM PST by ckilmer (Phi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry
I am here in UT and I’ve never been happier!
4 posted on 11/28/2007 2:54:11 PM PST by Veloxherc (To go up pull back, to go down pull back all the way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

Ping for later


5 posted on 11/28/2007 2:54:15 PM PST by Alex Murphy ("Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time." - Amos 5:13)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob; colorcountry

I’m here in beauuuuutiful Utah, and the only times I get depressed is when (1) I think of Demagogues like Shrillery; (2) when I think of the spineless RINOs who won’t stand up firmly against the Clintonistas, etc.; (3) when I think of New Jersey or Massachusetts, never mind California!! :^)


6 posted on 11/28/2007 2:57:28 PM PST by Enchante (Democrat terror-fighting motto: "BLEAT - CHEAT - RETREAT - DEFEAT - REPEAT")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39; Utah Binger; MHGinTN; Utah Girl

Something isn’t right in Zion, Ping!


7 posted on 11/28/2007 2:57:48 PM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

“Something isn’t right in Zion, Ping!”

I read a book recently by a an ex-mormon who stated his first reasons for questioning his church were the divorce rates, suicide rates, and rates of depression.

This caused him to reexamine the history of how the church was first formed, and that was the beginning of the end.


8 posted on 11/28/2007 3:03:27 PM PST by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry
The report card by Mental Health America was funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and draws together federal health data.
Now there's three groups I'm really going to put my trust in. MHA, Wyeth, and the Feds. Surely none of them would ever tell a fib, right?
9 posted on 11/28/2007 3:03:42 PM PST by samtheman (Fred Thompson '08)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob

If you go by depression rates and suicide rates that are higher in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming you come up with most depressed states in the Nation.


10 posted on 11/28/2007 3:04:27 PM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

“We’ve got the blues: Report labels Utah most depressed state in nation “

In a prior life, I worked in a lab that did medical toxicology.
I got to attend a symposium/workshop at The University of Utah which was
then forming some sort of institute of toxicology.
The two major players in that group told us (attendees) that the use
of anti-depressants among females in Utah was “through the roof” and
there were plenty of over-dose cases.

I don’t know if these two fellows were trying to lay this situation
at the feet of the Mormon faith...I simply stored that as a factoid.
And I have no personal knowlege if the situation has changed in the
succeeding years.

Can’t believe it was more than two decades ago.


11 posted on 11/28/2007 3:04:40 PM PST by VOA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

There’s not really enough information given, and “mental health” is notoriously difficult to define.

For instance, one day homosexuality is defined as deviant behavior, and the next day it’s admirable behavior, and not long after that it’s being taught to public school children.

This report needs a lot more details to be convincing.


12 posted on 11/28/2007 3:06:13 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

You might be on to something. Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada were at the top of the most depressed States. It is interesting that those same States also have the highest percentages of Mormon residents than the rest of the States.


13 posted on 11/28/2007 3:07:37 PM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

State Ranking on Depression Status
State Ranking on Depression Status

State Ranking on Suicide Rates
State Ranking on Suicide Rates


14 posted on 11/28/2007 3:09:39 PM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VOA
The two major players in that group told us (attendees) that the use of anti-depressants among females in Utah was “through the roof”

that jives with what a local doctor tells me ( I live here in the Salt Lake area). His theory is that all the pressure on mormon wives to be perfect homemakers drives them to anti-depressants.

15 posted on 11/28/2007 3:11:37 PM PST by ghost of nixon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Cicero

from the report at the linked site: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/state-ranking

The Ranking of the States
Using data from nationally representative surveys conducted by the United States government, Mental Health America created two different rankings of the states: one showing the state rankings of depression and one showing the state rank in terms of suicide rates.

Four different measures of depression and mental health status were used to develop one composite measure of the level of depression in a given state. The four measures were: (1) the percentage of the adult population experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year, (2) the percentage of the adolescent population (ages 12 to 17) experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year, (3) the percentage of the adult population experiencing serious psychological distress, and (4) the average number of days in the past 30 days in which the population reported that their mental health was not good.

Age-adjusted suicide rates were also examined since suicide is the most significant negative outcome of depression.


16 posted on 11/28/2007 3:12:43 PM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

Utah? Not buying it ... beautiful state, excellent weather, great skiing. No way ...


17 posted on 11/28/2007 3:13:26 PM PST by BluH2o
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

Old and recurring news, proven false every time....


18 posted on 11/28/2007 3:15:34 PM PST by tracer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

Miror, mirror, on the wall....


19 posted on 11/28/2007 3:16:08 PM PST by tracer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: colorcountry

OK. The statistics are interesting, although I notice that some states that are way down on depression status are fairly high in the suicide ratings, and vice versa.

For instance, my state of Vermont is good on depression but bad on suicide. I’m not sure what that says.

I suppose that it may raise questions about Mormonism, although that’s even more speculative. Secularists have often argued that religion makes people feel repressed, guilty, and depressed, but I’ve seen many studies that show the opposite—that religious people tend to be happier and more fulfilled.

By religion, that mostly meant Christianity, in the studies I’ve seen, since that’s still so much the majority religion in this country. Is Mormonism different in this regard? No idea.


20 posted on 11/28/2007 3:21:17 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson