Billings, Montana Has the Highest Rate of Depression in America

In the United States, depression is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses, and 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety and depressive disorders. The good news is that modern psychiatric medications do work, and there is considerably less stigma surrounding sadness and anxiety. These mental illnesses are curable.

The Happiest Place on Earth is a moniker commonly applied to Disney World. Ever wonder what it is that is opposed to it? According to statistics, Billings, Montana appears to hold the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rate of depression in America. According to studies, 31% of Billings residents have received a mental health professional's depression diagnosis. In contrast, national statistics indicate that just 7.1% of the population suffers from depression.

According to research from 2020, 38.5% of adults in Billings displayed signs of chronic depression. The city has nearly twice the national average rate of suicides. The causes have been attributed to factors such as alcoholism, high-risk populations including veterans and Native Americans, and even vitamin D deficiency, which is associated to depression, social isolation of a small population in a broad area, as well as others.