Utah's High Anti-Depressant Usage
Is the Problem the Mormon Church or Another Factor in the State?
The church and social scientists should look into whether it's specific to Utah or Mormon practice that causes high rates of mental health problems in Utah.
The leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints likes to portray a happy, healthy family image for itself. The Mormon commercials may portray this, but the irony is that Utah leads the nation in anti-depressant use, mental health problems related to depression, and has the highest teen suicide rate.
An article that appeared in the March 8, 2008 edition of the Salt Lake Tribune had a headline that proclaimed that Utah has the highest percentage of adults in serious psychological distress.The Deseret Morning News, a newspaper with ties to the largest Mormon denomination, also speculated why the rates of mental health problems and anti-depressant use were so high in the Beehive state, but the church-friendly newspaper ran an editorial that stated that the church itself should not be blamed for the high use of anti-depressants in Utah.
The article that appeared in the Deseret Morning News states that no study has been conducted on use of anti-depressants and the rate that psychological illnesses occur among the Mormon membership to see if the problem is specific to Utah or something that the practice of the faith causes.
Utah Has the Lowest Rates of Illegal Drug Use
While the use of antidepressants and teen suicide are the highest in Utah than any other state in the Union, the Deseret Morning News was quick to point out that was not the fault of the church. The article states that Utah has lowest rates of illegal drug use in the nation, which they are quick to attribute to the practice of the Mormon faith. The Salt Lake Tribune backs up the Deseret Morning News story, but the Tribune does not say that the church might be responsible for mental health problems amongst church members.
Until studies are done on Mormons specifically living both in and outside of Utah, social scientists cannot accurately determine whether something about Mormon practice is the cause of both the high rates of teen suicide, anti-depressant use, other mental health problems and the lowest rate of drug use are actually linked to Mormon practice or the result of some other fact in Utah. Critics of the faith point out that Mormonism is the only factor unique to Utah that would account for the higher rates.
Is the Mormon Practice Responsible for Utah's Mental Health Problems?
The answer to this question depends on who is asked. It is likely that the practice of the faith leads to positive and negative mental health problems depending on the condition. The low use of illegal drugs can be said to be a direct result of Mormon practice, especially following the Word of Wisdom.
Utah's high anti-depressant use and high prescription drug use most likely are connected to Mormon practice, but no studies have been conducted on members of the faith specifically, only the state. Social scientists looking to prove or disprove a connection need to start looking among members of the Mormon faith rather than a problem that coincindentally occurs in areas that have a large Mormon population.
Sources:
“Utah Leads the Nation in Adults with Serious Psychological Distress.” Julia Lyon. Salt Lake Tribune. March 8, 2008.Salt Lake City, Utah
“Why High Antidepressant Use in Utah?” Ted Walch. Deseret Morning News. Provo, Utah. July 21, 2006.
