Photo: SB Arts Media / Shutterstock
Tennessee and Kentucky are two of the most depressed states in the nation according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC released statewide data compiled in 2020 reflecting the rates of adults reporting ever being diagnosed with depression. The percentage of adults 18 and older who self-reported a diagnosis of depression was 18.5% in 2020, according to the report.
Kentucky was second with 25% and Tennessee a not-so-distant third with 24.4%. However, not all states fared the same. At the lower end, Hawaii reported just 12.7%, while West Virginia reported the highest rate at 27.5%.
According to the report, respondents were classified as having depression if they answered “yes” to the question “Have you ever had a doctor, nurse, or other health professional told you that you had a depressive disorder, including depression, major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression?”
Depression is a major contributing factor to mortality, disability, and economic costs in the US. And now a new report breaks down depression across the country by state and county.
Overall, the highest levels of prevalence among those who answered “yes” came from the Appalachian region, which includes West Virginia and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Young people aged 18 to 24 reported the highest prevalence of depression. Non-Hispanic multiracials had the highest prevalence (28.5) among races, followed by Alaskan/American Indians and non-Hispanic whites.
New data from the CDC finds that 17.7% of Texans report having a diagnosis of depression. Which is just below the national average of 18.5%.
In Texas and across the country, the age range with the highest reported depression is young adults ages 18-24.
Health experts say that physical activity, quality sleep, and good nutrition can help manage symptoms of depression.
Keep reading:
• Obesity changes your thoughts irreversibly: why
• The soap you use to bathe may be the reason you are a mosquito magnet.
• Why older adults wake up earlier