What state has the most depression?

While specific rankings change, recent CDC data shows higher depression rates in Southern states, especially Appalachia and the Mississippi Valley, with high prevalence in states like Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi, often linked to socioeconomic factors, rurality, and health access, but data varies by year and source.

What states have the highest rates of depression?

West Virginia consistently ranks as having the highest rates of depression, followed by other Southern and Appalachian states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, with data from the CDC showing significant variation but a clear trend towards higher prevalence in these areas, linked to factors like economic distress and limited access to care. 

What state in the US has the least depression?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the state with the lowest depression rate in the U.S., followed by states like California, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey, based on CDC data from recent years (2020-2022), with West Virginia having the highest rates. These figures reflect the percentage of adults who have ever been told by a healthcare professional that they have a depressive disorder.
 

What US city has the highest depression rate?

While rankings vary by study, Billings, Montana, often appears as the city with the highest rate of depression, with studies from around 2022 citing nearly one-third of its residents reporting a professional diagnosis, followed closely by areas like Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Other cities frequently cited with high rates include Charleston, WV, and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY, often linked to economic hardship and limited mental health access, though recent data suggests factors like poverty and environment play significant roles across different locations. 

Where are depression rates highest?

Among states, the age-standardized prevalence of depression ranged from 12.7% in Hawaii to 27.5% in West Virginia (median = 19.9%) (Table 2). The 10 states with the highest prevalence were (in descending order) West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Vermont, Alabama, Louisiana, Washington, Missouri, and Montana.

What is the leading cause of depression in the US?

There's no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers. For some people, an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Different causes can often combine to trigger depression.

What is the least depressing country?

Countries with the lowest depression rates often include lower-income nations in Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, with Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste frequently cited, though data varies by study, year, and measurement method (like lifetime vs. current depression). These low rates can be influenced by cultural factors, stigma, and underreporting, rather than just well-being. 

What is the unhappiest city in the US?

While no single city is universally labeled the "most miserable," Gary, Indiana frequently tops lists due to high poverty, unemployment, and crime, stemming from deindustrialization. Other cities consistently appearing on "miserable" or "unhappiest" lists include Detroit (MI), Cleveland (OH), Memphis (TN), and St. Louis (MO), often cited for high crime, poor health outcomes, and economic hardship, though lists vary by methodology and year.
 

What are five causes of depression?

Depression is a complex condition with multiple causes, including biological, psychological, environmental, medical, and substance-related factors. Understanding these causes can help in identifying risk factors and developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Which state has the most mental illnesses?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports highlight different states, but West Virginia, Alabama, and Utah frequently appear as having high rates of mental illness or poor mental health, while states like New York, Hawaii, and New Jersey often rank best for mental well-being and access to care. Rankings vary based on the specific measures used, such as prevalence of disorders (like depression or substance use), unmet treatment needs, or reported mentally unhealthy days. 

What is the happiest state?

According to recent 2025 studies, Hawaii is consistently ranked as the happiest state in the U.S., praised for its strong emotional/physical well-being (low depression, high life satisfaction, good health) and community factors, despite being expensive. Other top contenders often include Maryland, Nebraska, and New Jersey, while North Dakota and Vermont have also led lists in the past, highlighting different strengths like income growth or health. 

What state has the worst mental health care?

While rankings vary slightly by report, Texas, Nevada, Alabama, and Arizona consistently appear as some of the worst states for mental health care, citing high uninsured rates, low access to providers, significant gaps in youth mental health services, and high prevalence of untreated mental illness. Other states like Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida also rank poorly due to similar access issues, with Texas frequently topping lists for its barriers to treatment. 

What state has the least anxiety?

Lowest Anxiety Rates: North Dakota (17.5%), Hawaii (17.6%), and South Dakota (17.6%) have some of the lowest percentages of anxiety disorders.

What state has the least depressed people?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the state with the lowest depression rate in the U.S., followed by states like California, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey, based on CDC data from recent years (2020-2022), with West Virginia having the highest rates. These figures reflect the percentage of adults who have ever been told by a healthcare professional that they have a depressive disorder.
 

What state has the highest rate of anxiety?

Louisiana had the highest estimated incidence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in America between 2020 and 2023, with respondents reporting experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression an average of 5.6 percentage points more than the national average at the end of each survey period.

Which major has the most depression?

The Most Depressed College Students by Major

• Medicine.
• Law.
• Social work.
• Engineering.
• Business.
• Nursing.
• Pre-professional.
• Natural science or mathematics.

What are the 3 C's of depression?

Understanding the 3 C's—Cognitive symptoms, Concentration difficulties, and Crying spells—helps both individuals experiencing depression and their loved ones identify when professional support may be needed.

What habits help depression?

New evidence shows that people who maintain a range of healthy habits, from good sleep to physical activity to strong social connections, are significantly less likely to experience depression.

What happens to the brain during depression?

During depression, the brain undergoes significant changes, including structural shrinkage (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex), altered communication (neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine), overactive emotional centers (amygdala), and inflammation, leading to "brain fog," memory issues, mood dysregulation, and difficulty with focus, all of which can be reversed with effective treatment, restoring a healthier brain state.
 

What is the least happy state in America?

Based on recent studies, particularly WalletHub's 2025 analysis, Louisiana and West Virginia consistently rank as the unhappiest states, often swapping the bottom spots, with Louisiana frequently cited as the absolute least happy due to factors like high depression rates, long work hours, low sleep quality, and high divorce rates, while West Virginia struggles with high adult depression and poor sleep. Other states often in the bottom ranks include Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

What is the saddest city in the world?

Abu Dhabi has been ranked the world's safest city for 2025, topping CEO World's list of 300 global cities. The UAE capital achieved a safety score of 97.73, surpassing other leading cities like Taipei and Doha.

What is the most stressful city in America?

According to recent studies, Detroit, Michigan, consistently ranks as the most stressed city in the U.S., followed closely by cities like Cleveland, Baltimore, and Gulfport, MS, primarily due to high rates of unemployment, poverty, financial strain, and inadequate sleep, with Rust Belt and Southern cities often dominating the top spots. 

What race has the least depression?

The prevalence of depression was lower among non-Hispanic Asian adults than among any other race and Hispanic-origin group. Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults had the lowest prevalence of depression (3.1%) compared with Hispanic (8.2%), non-Hispanic white (7.9%), and non-Hispanic black (9.2%) adults.

Can exercise help with depression?

Yes, exercise significantly helps with depression by boosting mood-lifting chemicals like endorphins, reducing stress hormones, improving sleep, increasing energy, and enhancing brain function, acting as an effective complementary or standalone treatment, especially for mild to moderate cases, and can be as effective as medication for some individuals. Starting with enjoyable, moderate activity like walking, running, yoga, or strength training, and gradually increasing intensity, can make a big difference.
 

Is depression a disability?

Yes, clinical depression is considered a disability under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can qualify for Social Security benefits, as it's a recognized medical condition that can substantially limit major life activities, but eligibility depends on the severity and impact on your ability to work, requiring documentation from doctors to prove significant impairment. It's a legitimate medical disorder, not a weakness, and offers protections against workplace discrimination and potential financial assistance if it prevents you from working.