Report Reveals Links Between States' Mental Health Status and Treatment-Access

- First-ever report ranks states based on depression status; calls for mentalhealth monitoring system to inform state policies impacting access to care -ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mental Health Americatoday released its report, "Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis ofDepression Across the States," a first-of-its-kind study examining state andnational data for statistical associations between factors that govern accessto mental health care and actual mental health outcomes, including suiciderates. Included in the study is a ranking of the 50 states and the Districtof Columbia based on rates of depression and suicide. South Dakota is foundto lead the nation with the best depression status while Utah ranks last. Forthe complete rankings, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net. "It is important to note that regardless of where each state ranks, there ismuch room for improvement," said Dr. David Shern, PhD, president and CEO ofMental Health America. "While a number of factors including biology andenvironment affect an individual's mental health, this study shows that statescan significantly improve their populations' mental health status by adoptingpolicies that expand access to treatments."In "Ranking America's Mental Health," Mental Health America foundstatistically significant associations between the following factors andbetter depression status and lower suicide rates:

-- Mental health resources - On average, the higher the number of-- Mental health resources - On average, the higher the number ofpsychiatrists, psychologists and social workers per capita in a state, thelower the suicide rate.

-- Barriers to treatment - The lower the percentage of the population-- Barriers to treatment - The lower the percentage of the populationreporting that they could not obtain healthcare because of costs, the lowerthe suicide rate and the better the state's depression status. In addition,the lower the percentage of the population that reported unmet mentalhealthcare needs, the better the state's depression status.

-- Mental health treatment utilization - The higher the percentage of the-- Mental health treatment utilization - The higher the percentage of thepopulation receiving mental health treatment, the lower the suicide rate.

-- Socioeconomic characteristics - The more educated the population and the-- Socioeconomic characteristics - The more educated the population and thegreater the percentage with health insurance, the lower the suicide rate. Themore educated the population, the better the state's depression status.In addition, the report found the following factor to be significantlyassociated with the level of mental health service utilization in a state:

-- Health insurance parity - Parity exists when state and/or federal law(s)-- Health insurance parity - Parity exists when state and/or federal law(s)require health insurers to provide mental benefits equivalent to thoseprovided for other health conditions. The more generous a state's mentalhealth parity coverage, the greater the number of people in the populationthat receive mental health services."The findings of this study underscore the critical need to monitor the mentalhealth status of Americans by examining depression and the states' policiesthat may impact it," said Shern. "Through regular and ongoing measurement ofkey indicators of depression, we will be able to understand how state publicpolicies impact a population's depression level and suicide rate - and makeadjustments to benefit the millions of American affected by depression."In developing the state rankings of depression status, Mental Health Americaexamined four measures: 1) the percentage of the adult populationexperiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year, 2) thepercentage of the adolescent population experiencing at least one majordepressive episode in the past year, 3) the percentage of adults experiencingserious psychological distress, and 4) the average number of days in the last30 days in which the population reported that their mental health was notgood.This report found significant variation among the states in the levels ofdepression and in its most tragic consequence: suicide. Rates of depressionamong the states vary from around seven percent in the least depressed statesto over 10 percent in states where residents reported the highest levels ofdepression. This difference represents a nearly 40 percent variation from theleast to the most depressed states. To achieve top ranking in the country, South Dakota yielded the best resultsfor the four measures used to develop a composite depression status indicator.Among adults, 7.31 percent experienced a major depressive episode in the pastyear and 11.16 percent experienced serious psychological distress. Amongadolescents, 7.4 percent had a major depressive episode in the past year. Onaverage, South Dakotans reported 2.41 poor mental health days per month. Eventhough South Dakota ranked well in overall depression status, it is alsoimportant to note that the state had an age-adjusted suicide rate of 14.85,ranking South Dakota 40th in the nation, which is 300 percent higher than theDistrict of Columbia, which has the lowest suicide rate. Utah ranked 51st in depression status. For both adults and adolescents, 10.14percent reported experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year. Among adults, 14.58 percent experienced serious psychological distress. Onaverage, residents of Utah reported 3.27 poor mental health days per month."Despite the fact that some states do better than others on rates ofdepression and suicide, no state can be satisfied with its current status,"continued Shern. "These rates can be driven lower by encouraging statepolicies designed to improve coverage, end discriminatory practices ininsurance, and assure that qualified mental health professionals are availableto serve everyone in need." The top ten "least depressed" states are: 1) South Dakota, 2) Hawaii, 3) NewJersey, 4) Iowa, 5) Maryland, 6) Minnesota, 7) Louisiana, 8) Illinois, 9)North Dakota, and 10) Texas. The bottom ten "most depressed" states are: 42)Wyoming, 43) Ohio, 44) Missouri, 45) Idaho, 46) Oklahoma, 47) Nevada, 48)Rhode Island, 49) Kentucky, 50) West Virginia, and 51) Utah.Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental HealthAssociation) is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping allpeople live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliatesnationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mentalwellness for the health and well-being of the nation. "Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across theStates" was supported through an unrestricted educational grant from WyethPharmaceuticals.For the full report and ranking of the 50 states, please visitwww.mentalhealthamerica.net.SOURCE Mental Health AmericaHeather Cobb of Mental Health America, +1-703-797-2588; or Karen Lee,+1-202-973-3606, for Mental Health America