CDC: Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. adults depressed

[Liberal_in_LA]

Source: CNN

Nine percent of U.S. adults have at least some symptoms of depression, and people in certain states are more likely to be depressed than those in others, according to the results of a nationwide survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mississippi had the highest depression rate in the nation, with 14.8 percent of residents reporting two or more symptoms of the condition, such as feeling hopeless, taking little interest or pleasure in everyday activities, and having trouble concentrating. Health.com: How to recognize the symptoms of depression

Other states at the top of the list included West Virginia (14.3 percent), Alabama (13 percent), Oklahoma (11.3 percent), Tennessee (11 percent), and Louisiana (10.8 percent), according to the survey, which was conducted in 2006 and 2008. See state map.


Read more: http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/01/cdc-nearly-1-in-10-u-s-adults-depressed/?hpt=T2

[amerikat]

1. Poverty is a factor in depression.

I didn't click the link but I recognize those states as being among
the poorest in the nation.

[Hannah Bell]

7. yeah, it's pretty striking.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. The depressed states are also the most obese states (except VA)

Just an observation. No theory about it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Overeating can be a form of self-medicating

[tinrobot]

17. Most serotonin is actually produced in the gut

When you eat too much crap, you can seriously affect the amount of serotonin produced.

So, self-medication in the form of overeating often produces the exact opposite effect.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Just like drinking when depressed.

The fact that it doesn't work doesn't keep people from doing it...

[CLANG]

I'm depressed as hell, and I live in Wisconsin!

From my experience it's more like 20% of people are depressed.

[jkappy]

6. I mean who really isn't depressed? It's just that no one wants

to be a glass half empty person because this is a question with only one answer--"i'm a glass half full person" the tyranny of happiness, in other words. besides the number of americans on anti-depressants gives the lie to this vastly under-rated 9% figure. that's more like the percentage of permanently depressed.

[RKP5637]

8. Yeah, that's what I think too, the 9% figure is more like the percentage

of permanently depressed.

[CLANG]

12. I guess I'm thinking 20% on drugs for depression

Many people are afraid of the stigma (perceived or not) and are afraid to seek professional help. The old "buck up" theory of mental health.

[Historic NY]

3. Its a little out of date....probably higher in 2010

[KT2000]

4. neurotoxic chemicals

probably play a role in these numbers. Tons of those chemicals are released into the environment every year. Agriculture and people spraying for insects contribute. Check out the health effects of insecticides and herbicides - not good.

[SpiralHawk]

19. Bingo

You got it...

[Dappleganger]

5. It's hit quite hard in our home.

It's one thing when it happens to you, but when it shows up in your children...:(

[RKP5637]

10. If I were a child today, I think I would find it hard not to be somewhat

depressed. Just a brief glance at what is going on today is enough to make one have a bad day IMO.

[woo me with science]

9. More great science reporting.

Depression has now been redefined as having "two or more symptoms" of depression.

Can we also figure the rate of cancer by measuring who has two or more symptoms of that? You know, things like headache...

[FirstLight]

11. gee...isn't that funny?

I believe the poverty levels and unemployment numbers would be right on par with these numbers.

It isn't rocket science that losing your home, job, struggling for food, having family hardships, etc woulld make one depressed.

Add to it the fact that everywhere we turn, we are reminded that the rest of the world is going to hell in a handbasket

If I wasn't the only one my kids had, i probably would have offed myself by now...

[Demeter]

13. How Many Are Democrats?

Sure would like a data dump on all kinds of markers....

[Manifestor_of_Light]

14. Christianity makes it worse. MUCH worse.

Sitting in church and allowing yourself to be subjected to the emotional abuse that is the doctrine of Original Sin will do it.

"You're a worthless P.O.S. because a couple of fruit-munching idiots in a fairytale ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, because they wanted KNOWLEDGE!! KNOWLEDGE IS BAD!!"

Yeah I ran like hell from churches when I realized the effect on my self-esteem. Pretty horrible.

I think fundamentalist Christians are always clinically depressed because of the beating on the negative, fire and brimstone sermons they listen to. And they don't know why.

All those states are very religious and tend toward the fundy.

I live in Texas, I know about fundy.

[1955doubledie]

16. That's probably part of it

Big picture is, it's a culture that devalues people--especially if they're the "wrong" types of people and/or poor.

[rug]

20. 9 in 10 U.S. adults are not paying attention.

[KillCapitalism]

21. Yep, ignorance is bliss. n/t