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Study: Utah most depressed state in the country

Interesting article. Maybe it's from the overwhelming pressure from the cultural majority in this state to live your life a certain way. You'd think they'd be happier since they are the only ones who know the "truth".

For some odd reason I am not surprise that Utah is ranked 51. But just curious, if they ranked states... Isn't there only 50 states or did we invade someone last night?

I'ts not that they are actually depressed, they just want the drugs. They don't call it "Happy Valley" for nothing!

Last time I checked it was 50 States! But hey maybe because its Utah. I can see it though with the cold weather and a state that is ran by the Church.

When states are rated, usually the District of Columbia is included in the rankings. Thus, there are 50 states and 1 district totalling 51.

It is no wonder that Utah is ranked as the most depressed state. Is it possibly because all those people in Utah County think that nothing bad can happen in their lives? Could it also be because of the fact that they think they feel guilty for when they do something wrong?

Come on all lets hear all your anti-mormon banter. By the way--even if utah does rank last why do we have such nice people

I used to think that all the depression came from LDS women thinking that they have to be "SuperMom" and be perfecy, rather than striving for perfection.
Now I see all the people mortgaged to the hilt and know that they might have that gorgeous home on the East Bench, but at what cost?
Wake up Utah!
You do not have to be perfect!
You do not have to live in the sest house in the neighborhood to be an OK person!
Be happy with who you really are and what you really can have or afford, then try to do the right thing.... happiness will follow, peace of mind too!

People can't just stop trying to be perfect. Ha, that's hilarious. It really doesn't surprise me that Utah is the most depressed state. Utahns won't talk to people around them. You have to be perfect and you can't do anything wrong or you're damned for life. Oh and the reason we have the nicest people is because everyone is so dang depressed about their own life that they have to do something nice for everyone else every minute so they feel like maybe their life is worth something.

While people who are not LDS are able to drink and do drugs to help them selves feel better, LDS people don't have that option. So, they either get help from a doctor or stay depressed.

I recently moved to Utah and I've never seen so much competition and people that bleach their hair and teeth and have plastic surgery and look like tan-orexics...I often feel like I'm living with a bunch of "orange county wanna-be's" who think they are wealthier than they really are. I think these people are depressed because they're trying to manipulate their bodies to look a certain way and then they pressure themselves to be the wealthiest and most affluent family on the block, it's all one big competition here and that would weigh anyone down when they constantly feel like they fall short of expectations they put on themselves.

the state is not ran by the church! What a lie. The church is not even influencing politics! It's those people that are in office. Maybe if Gordon B. Hinckley or if one of the general authorities were in the seat of governor, then maybe I would believe you, but no.

I agree with I think, I am not in Utah now, but when I would go through times of feeling depressed I had only two options, others have more, mine were to take pills, which I would not do, or work my way through it. But there are many people who are able to get drunk, slightly drunk or take the edge off with a few sips, or there are those who will use illegal drugs, and get a high off that. There are people who are chemically depressed and need to be on medications, but there are many who are using legal or illegal substances to mask what they are feeling. For those of us who have the ability to control depression with our mind, we should, but we should not judge those who suffer depression due to a chemical imbalance. Dark chocolate is not only tasty, but it is very high in endorphans.

I am from upstate N.Y.and I don't believe the people are anymore competitive here than they are anywhere else. TV has opened the world to everyone, and this influence is everywhere. I find the Mormons a very kind and good people.
Where I come from, it's lets slam the Catholic Church. Here it is lets slam the Mormons. I think the people who feel this way should live somewhere else for a little while.

Amen. People who live in Utah and bash it usually haven't lived out of the state or if they have, it wasn't very long. I lived in Hawaii for two years before moving back last year and I was honestly embarassed with how much disdain some Utahns themselves hold for themselves. It was hard for me to adjust coming back from Hawaii to the mainland, let alone Utah, but now that I've been back for over a year, I can see that it isn't so bad of a place that some make it out to be. The LDS church is not some big evil theocratic entity trying to suck you in until you've lost your will. Personally, most people won't know what diversity is until they live for several months in places like Hawaii or South Florida. As for depression, I'm sure since most of the populace abstains from the common element of alcohol to cope with depression, this shouldn't come as a surpise. Oh, and mormons are pretty cool people and are just as imperfect as many people.

The entire article is not yet available. So far, my understanding is that Utah ranks #51 for diagnosed depression/use of anti-depressants. (This distinction has not changed in the past fifteen years.) Most persons suffering from clinical depression self-medicate. They use alcohol to "numb the pain." They use street drugs to "get high." Some drink several cola drinks a day for a "buzz" or carry a cup of coffee to "stay awake."

The majority of latter-day saints do not use these substances at all. Those suffering from depression must consult with their doctors and rely on prescription medication, resulting in a blip in the statistics. Another factor may be the way latter-day saints take care of one another. Bishops, home teachers, and visiting teachers are available to individuals and families in distress. Such persons are likely to encourage one who is depressed to visit their physician, again creating a blip in the stats.

To me, the purpose of the article is education and awareness of a need for more mental health services. Rank order is unimportant to that purpose.

The article and a good many of the comments are depressing.

i'm active lds who grew up in utah and now live in ca. i've lived here nearly 20 years and found it to be a refreshing cultural change from the church in utah. there women had an unspoken code of what constituted a "good" wife and mother. things like ironing undies and t shirts or fixing hair like prom night every day. worrying waaaaay too much about what the neighbors thought and getting depressed if they didn't measure up. these attitudes are NOT coming from the pulpit, just in people's minds. here in ca it is so much nicer just to be yourself and not worry if you don't like to quilt or make homemade bread.

The most depressing man I knew was an alcoholic brother in law...alcohol is no solution, not for the alcoholics I have known. To be in charge of ones senses, and know where you came from, why your are here, and what the prospects are for the next life are wonderful anti depressants. Try it out, you who like to dull your senses with drugs and alcohol, the answers to these questions are all around you in Utah. Yes, those who know better but do not practice and seek it, that could be a source of depression. Try living your religion and see it that helps.

This is depressing.