Utah Antidepressant Paradox — Mixed Evidence Overview

Abstract

Overview of the mixed evidence on Utah and LDS depression rates, high antidepressant use, and the competing explanations.

Findings for Latter-day Saints

• Studies are mixed: some show LDS less depressed, some show more.
• Utah ranks poorly on some state mental-health metrics.
• High antidepressant use may reflect more help-seeking and less self-medication rather than more illness.
• LDS-heavy counties show lower antidepressant use than the Utah state average.
• Suicide and high life-satisfaction co-occurrence linked to comparison effects and altitude.

Limitations in methodology

Synthesis of mixed evidence; conclusions depend on which underlying studies are weighted most heavily.

Related studies

• 1999Mental HealthDepression

  Religiosity, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints

  Daniel K. Judd

• 2024PerfectionismMental Health

  Perfectionism's Influence on Adolescent Mental Health

  Mark D. Ogletree

Cite this study

Magazine, M. /. P. S. (2023). Utah Antidepressant Paradox — Mixed Evidence Overview. MormonR.org; Public Square Magazine. https://mormonr.org/qnas/kxclp/antidepressants_in_utah

MormonR.org / Public Square Magazine. "Utah Antidepressant Paradox — Mixed Evidence Overview." MormonR.org; Public Square Magazine, 2023. https://mormonr.org/qnas/kxclp/antidepressants_in_utah.

@article{utah_antidepressant_paradox,
  title = {Utah Antidepressant Paradox — Mixed Evidence Overview},
  author = {MormonR.org / Public Square Magazine},
  year = {2023},
  journal = {MormonR.org; Public Square Magazine},
  url = {https://mormonr.org/qnas/kxclp/antidepressants_in_utah},
}