Utah: The Most Depressed State in the Nation
ABC news recently reported a recent study by Mental Health America that ranked Utah the most
depressed state in the country. (Click here for the original article). I find it curiously ironic that a state which contains the highest concentration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the same church that preaches they have all the answers to the meaning of life, a direct conduit to God, and all the answers to bring a person joy in this life and the life to come, is the state that is the most depressed. That's a lot like the guy that drives around with the sign in the rear window of his car, "Earn 25K per month! Call Me Now!" Of course the car the guy is driving is an '89 Yugo.
Mormon dogma preaches that if one lives a worthy life here, in the next life they will be able to have their own planet. But Mormons apparently can't even be happy in their own state, now we're talking entire galaxies filled with depressed people. The prescription anti-depressant drug companies are going to love that. They're not just going to be global, but universal.
So why is Utah so depressed? Well that depends on who you talk to. Utah Mormons insist they're not depressed. Much like the Hitler Youth insisted they didn't care about popular fashion trends; they really like wearing plain brown shirts. I've heard defensive Mormons say the most depressed state statistics arise from poor health care in Utah and the lack of adequate treatment. Of course if the people weren't so depressed, there wouldn't be a need for so much treatment now would there?
I don't buy the lack of available treatment argument either. A survey released by drug distribution company Express Scripts found that residents of Utah were prescribed antidepressant drugs more than those of any other state and at twice the national average. So it's not like Utahans aren't not getting enough treatment, apparently they are getting twice as much.
So Utah is depressed; we got that. But again, why? I've spent the better part of my life as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a lot of that was not living in Utah, but I can tell you, I was still depressed. I don't think the place where you spend your life has as much to do with how you feel as does the place where you spend your life on Sunday. And most Utahans are spending Sunday in Mormon church houses. And I do mean Sunday. Not just the three hours in actual Church meetings Mormons have, but depending on who you are you're spending at least one hour before church meetings in meetings, and one hour after church meetings in more meetings, and a few Sundays a month throw in a few more get togethers in the evening. And that's just Sunday.
Factor in at least one night a week for other church related activities, a few Saturday afternoons a month going to the local Mormon Temple, and a few more days in the month for other Mormon church related service projects.
By the way, if you don't do all that, you don't get your own planet.
And I remember how upset I was when I was six and didn't get an Etch a Sketch for Christmas.
But it's not just the regimented scheduled church meetings; it's all the other things Mormons are supposed to be doing or not supposed to be doing.
Mormons believed that any and all of their church leaders are called of God. And whatever their church leaders say, Mormons believe it is as if God was saying it. I once had a Mormon bishop who lectured all the sisters in the congregation that every woman was to wear panty hose to every church meeting, no exceptions. Translation: God is commanding you to wear panty hose... Now, I know, I know... But Jesus never wore panty hose with his open toe sandals. But then again, Jesus never had a Mormon Bishop telling him what to do; or making him feel guilty for not doing it.
Because back then, whatever it was Jesus was teaching, wasn't riddled with so much guilt. Interesting that Jesus rose the dead, made the blind see, the deaf hear, and cured leprosy, but there's nothing in the Bible about Jesus having to cure his mass of followers from depression. But then again, Jesus never lived in Utah. If he did, maybe we could cure this depression thing once and for all. Not by the laying on of hands or some miracle of God... but just through some good common sense.
And if it works in Utah, everybody can keep that in mind when they get their own planet.
Mormon dogma preaches that if one lives a worthy life here, in the next life they will be able to have their own planet. But Mormons apparently can't even be happy in their own state, now we're talking entire galaxies filled with depressed people. The prescription anti-depressant drug companies are going to love that. They're not just going to be global, but universal.
So why is Utah so depressed? Well that depends on who you talk to. Utah Mormons insist they're not depressed. Much like the Hitler Youth insisted they didn't care about popular fashion trends; they really like wearing plain brown shirts. I've heard defensive Mormons say the most depressed state statistics arise from poor health care in Utah and the lack of adequate treatment. Of course if the people weren't so depressed, there wouldn't be a need for so much treatment now would there?
I don't buy the lack of available treatment argument either. A survey released by drug distribution company Express Scripts found that residents of Utah were prescribed antidepressant drugs more than those of any other state and at twice the national average. So it's not like Utahans aren't not getting enough treatment, apparently they are getting twice as much.
So Utah is depressed; we got that. But again, why? I've spent the better part of my life as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a lot of that was not living in Utah, but I can tell you, I was still depressed. I don't think the place where you spend your life has as much to do with how you feel as does the place where you spend your life on Sunday. And most Utahans are spending Sunday in Mormon church houses. And I do mean Sunday. Not just the three hours in actual Church meetings Mormons have, but depending on who you are you're spending at least one hour before church meetings in meetings, and one hour after church meetings in more meetings, and a few Sundays a month throw in a few more get togethers in the evening. And that's just Sunday.
Factor in at least one night a week for other church related activities, a few Saturday afternoons a month going to the local Mormon Temple, and a few more days in the month for other Mormon church related service projects.
By the way, if you don't do all that, you don't get your own planet.
And I remember how upset I was when I was six and didn't get an Etch a Sketch for Christmas.
But it's not just the regimented scheduled church meetings; it's all the other things Mormons are supposed to be doing or not supposed to be doing.
Mormons believed that any and all of their church leaders are called of God. And whatever their church leaders say, Mormons believe it is as if God was saying it. I once had a Mormon bishop who lectured all the sisters in the congregation that every woman was to wear panty hose to every church meeting, no exceptions. Translation: God is commanding you to wear panty hose... Now, I know, I know... But Jesus never wore panty hose with his open toe sandals. But then again, Jesus never had a Mormon Bishop telling him what to do; or making him feel guilty for not doing it.
Because back then, whatever it was Jesus was teaching, wasn't riddled with so much guilt. Interesting that Jesus rose the dead, made the blind see, the deaf hear, and cured leprosy, but there's nothing in the Bible about Jesus having to cure his mass of followers from depression. But then again, Jesus never lived in Utah. If he did, maybe we could cure this depression thing once and for all. Not by the laying on of hands or some miracle of God... but just through some good common sense.
And if it works in Utah, everybody can keep that in mind when they get their own planet.
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