The number of people dealing with anxiety and depression in each state has changed significantly over the last two years. Our team of analysts found that anxiety and depression levels increased during the first year of the pandemic, decreased dramatically in 2021 and are now rising again.
Key findings:
- Nearly 30% of people are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression
- Anxiety and depression has increased by as much as 89% in some states since 2021
- Mississippi and Oklahoma have the highest rates of anxiety and depression
Changes in anxiety or depression in each state
Anxiety and depression levels have fluctuated throughout the pandemic. Levels first started rising in early 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began and peaked in December 2020 when 43% of people were dealing with either anxiety, depression or both. The number of people dealing with anxiety and depression then decreased throughout 2021 to a low of 29% before gradually rising in the beginning of 2022.
Nationwide, nearly 30% of Americans are struggling with feelings of anxiety or depression several times a week. However, some states' struggles are particularly pronounced. We found that the number of people dealing with anxiety or depression increased by more than 15% in eight states over the last year.
| State | % of people with symptoms of anxiety or depression | % change since 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 31% | 11% |
| Alaska | 31% | 5% |
| Arizona | 29% | 5% |
| Arkansas | 28% | -16% |
| California | 33% | 2% |
| Colorado | 24% | -27% |
| Connecticut | 30% | -7% |
| Delaware | 24% | -7% |
| Florida | 28% | -2% |
| Georgia | 29% | -5% |
| Hawaii | 25% | -4% |
| Idaho | 29% | 1% |
| Illinois | 30% | 2% |
| Indiana | 29% | 3% |
| Iowa | 28% | 7% |
| Kansas | 28% | 11% |
| Kentucky | 36% | 14% |
| Louisiana | 31% | -8% |
| Maine | 31% | 16% |
| Maryland | 28% | 1% |
| Massachusetts | 31% | 9% |
| Michigan | 32% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 27% | 11% |
| Mississippi | 38% | 18% |
| Missouri | 32% | 19% |
| Montana | 32% | 19% |
| Nebraska | 29% | 14% |
| Nevada | 30% | 6% |
| New Hampshire | 32% | 16% |
| New Jersey | 30% | 13% |
| New Mexico | 32% | 11% |
| New York | 32% | -1% |
| North Carolina | 28% | 0% |
| North Dakota | 30% | 28% |
| Ohio | 28% | -1% |
| Oklahoma | 38% | 15% |
| Oregon | 33% | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | 32% | 4% |
| Rhode Island | 25% | -5% |
| South Carolina | 31% | 2% |
| South Dakota | 19% | -21% |
| Tennessee | 32% | -4% |
| Texas | 34% | 5% |
| Utah | 37% | 33% |
| Vermont | 26% | -9% |
| Virginia | 30% | -7% |
| Washington | 34% | 10% |
| West Virginia | 31% | -2% |
| Wisconsin | 27% | -11% |
| Wyoming | 27% | -17% |
| United States | 30% | 3% |
States with the most anxiety and depression
Kentucky, Utah and Oklahoma have the highest numbers of people who are dealing with anxiety. More than 30% of people in these three states reported feeling symptoms of anxiety almost every day. New Hampshire, Vermont and Colorado experienced the biggest changes in anxiety levels over the last year. The number of people dealing with anxiety increased by 59% in New Hampshire and decreased by nearly 30% in Vermont and Colorado.
Depression is highest in Oklahoma, Mississippi and Texas. Nearly 25% of people in those three states say they feel depressed almost every day. Delaware, Colorado and South Dakota reported the lowest numbers of people experiencing symptoms of depression. The number of people dealing with depression increased by nearly 50% in six states.
| State | % experiencing Anxiety | % change since 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 26% | 10% |
| Alaska | 25% | 8% |
| Arizona | 25% | 6% |
| Arkansas | 24% | -17% |
| California | 26% | 0% |
| Colorado | 21% | -27% |
| Connecticut | 24% | -13% |
| Delaware | 21% | -2% |
| Florida | 21% | -15% |
| Georgia | 22% | -15% |
| Hawaii | 20% | 4% |
| Idaho | 26% | 10% |
| Illinois | 25% | 3% |
| Indiana | 23% | -7% |
| Iowa | 23% | 5% |
| Kansas | 24% | 13% |
| Kentucky | 33% | 34% |
| Louisiana | 26% | 4% |
| Maine | 27% | 17% |
| Maryland | 24% | 11% |
| Massachusetts | 26% | 4% |
| Michigan | 25% | 0% |
| Minnesota | 23% | 14% |
| Mississippi | 28% | 2% |
| Missouri | 27% | 21% |
| Montana | 26% | 4% |
| Nebraska | 25% | 22% |
| Nevada | 26% | 4% |
| New Hampshire | 29% | 59% |
| New Jersey | 24% | 1% |
| New Mexico | 25% | 10% |
| New York | 27% | -1% |
| North Carolina | 25% | 5% |
| North Dakota | 24% | 12% |
| Ohio | 23% | -1% |
| Oklahoma | 30% | 11% |
| Oregon | 28% | -3% |
| Pennsylvania | 27% | 2% |
| Rhode Island | 19% | 0% |
| South Carolina | 26% | -3% |
| South Dakota | 16% | -10% |
| Tennessee | 25% | -7% |
| Texas | 27% | 4% |
| Utah | 32% | 39% |
| Vermont | 20% | -28% |
| Virginia | 24% | -13% |
| Washington | 28% | 2% |
| West Virginia | 25% | 0% |
| Wisconsin | 22% | -13% |
| Wyoming | 22% | -23% |
| United States | 25% | 0% |
| State | % experiencing depression | % change since 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 19% | 11% |
| Alaska | 18% | 10% |
| Arizona | 18% | 20% |
| Arkansas | 20% | 10% |
| California | 21% | 5% |
| Colorado | 12% | -37% |
| Connecticut | 16% | -14% |
| Delaware | 13% | -27% |
| Florida | 17% | -10% |
| Georgia | 17% | -6% |
| Hawaii | 13% | -12% |
| Idaho | 18% | 26% |
| Illinois | 14% | -16% |
| Indiana | 17% | -5% |
| Iowa | 16% | 0% |
| Kansas | 17% | 8% |
| Kentucky | 22% | 79% |
| Louisiana | 19% | 11% |
| Maine | 17% | -19% |
| Maryland | 13% | -4% |
| Massachusetts | 18% | 28% |
| Michigan | 20% | 22% |
| Minnesota | 16% | 22% |
| Mississippi | 23% | 87% |
| Missouri | 18% | 7% |
| Montana | 17% | 19% |
| Nebraska | 15% | 3% |
| Nevada | 20% | 21% |
| New Hampshire | 20% | 38% |
| New Jersey | 18% | 38% |
| New Mexico | 17% | 2% |
| New York | 22% | 15% |
| North Carolina | 18% | -13% |
| North Dakota | 17% | 9% |
| Ohio | 15% | 22% |
| Oklahoma | 27% | 28% |
| Oregon | 19% | -5% |
| Pennsylvania | 19% | 1% |
| Rhode Island | 14% | -26% |
| South Carolina | 19% | 49% |
| South Dakota | 11% | -26% |
| Tennessee | 19% | 46% |
| Texas | 22% | 10% |
| Utah | 21% | 18% |
| Vermont | 16% | -17% |
| Virginia | 17% | 3% |
| Washington | 20% | 5% |
| West Virginia | 20% | 19% |
| Wisconsin | 17% | -10% |
| Wyoming | 17% | -4% |
| United States | 19% | 7% |
Anxiety or depression by demographics
Men, women and people of different ages, ethnicities and education levels have all experienced the pandemic differently. Women report having higher levels of anxiety and depression than men, while older and more educated Americans currently have some of the lowest levels of anxiety or depression.
When we looked at race and ethnicity, our analysts found that Asian communities have experienced the largest declines in anxiety or depression. Black, white and Hispanic communities report roughly the same levels of anxiety or depression.
| Demographics | % experiencing anxiety | % experiencing depression |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 26% | 22% |
| Asian | 15% | 13% |
| Black | 24% | 20% |
| White | 25% | 18% |
| Age | % experiencing anxiety | % experiencing depression |
|---|---|---|
| 18-29 years | 38% | 31% |
| 30-39 years | 35% | 25% |
| 40-49 years | 29% | 20% |
| 50-59 years | 23% | 18% |
| 60-69 years | 15% | 11% |
| 70-79 years | 11% | 8% |
| 80 years and above | 8% | 7% |
| Men | 22% | 17% |
| Women | 28% | 20% |
| Education level | % experiencing anxiety | % experiencing depression |
|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 26% | 22% |
| High school diploma or GED | 25% | 21% |
| Some college/associate's degree | 30% | 23% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21% | 12% |
Sexuality and mental health
People who identify as gay or lesbian are more likely to report feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression than people who identify as straight. However, this trend depends heavily on where someone lives. Anxiety and depression levels are two to four times higher in gay and lesbian communities in the midwest and south than in straight communities in those same states.
In Alabama, for example, anxiety and depression levels are around 80% in the gay and lesbian community and around 20% in the straight community. In western states like Washington, Oregon and California however, anxiety and depression levels are nearly the same regardless of sexuality.
| State | % experiencing anxiety - straight | % experiencing anxiety - gay or lesbian | % experiencing depression - straight | % experiencing depression - gay or lesbian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 22% | 86% | 16% | 82% |
| Alaska | 23% | 36% | 17% | 30% |
| Arizona | 22% | 63% | 14% | 56% |
| Arkansas | 22% | 46% | 19% | 36% |
| California | 24% | 23% | 19% | 27% |
| Colorado | 16% | 25% | 10% | 12% |
| Connecticut | 22% | 22% | 15% | 20% |
| Delaware | 19% | 30% | 12% | 12% |
| Florida | 20% | 41% | 16% | 29% |
| Georgia | 17% | 43% | 12% | 28% |
| Hawaii | 19% | 7% | 13% | 7% |
| Idaho | 24% | 11% | 16% | 21% |
| Illinois | 24% | 33% | 14% | 11% |
| Indiana | 19% | 41% | 15% | 22% |
| Iowa | 17% | 75% | 12% | 28% |
| Kansas | 20% | 64% | 15% | 48% |
| Kentucky | 29% | 37% | 18% | 28% |
| Louisiana | 25% | 49% | 19% | 18% |
| Maine | 23% | 46% | 14% | 22% |
| Maryland | 20% | 39% | 11% | 37% |
| Massachusetts | 22% | 42% | 16% | 22% |
| Michigan | 23% | 12% | 19% | 28% |
| Minnesota | 19% | 25% | 13% | 20% |
| Mississippi | 27% | 36% | 23% | 5% |
| Missouri | 25% | 45% | 16% | 33% |
| Montana | 25% | 30% | 16% | 30% |
| Nebraska | 22% | 26% | 14% | 8% |
| Nevada | 22% | 36% | 17% | 21% |
| New Hampshire | 24% | 51% | 15% | 56% |
| New Jersey | 21% | 24% | 16% | 20% |
| New Mexico | 21% | 36% | 13% | 22% |
| New York | 25% | 30% | 21% | 25% |
| North Carolina | 22% | 29% | 14% | 33% |
| North Dakota | 20% | 67% | 14% | 62% |
| Ohio | 21% | 59% | 13% | 69% |
| Oklahoma | 28% | 46% | 23% | 33% |
| Oregon | 23% | 33% | 16% | 16% |
| Pennsylvania | 24% | 49% | 16% | 45% |
| Rhode Island | 18% | 3% | 13% | 12% |
| South Carolina | 25% | 36% | 19% | 11% |
| South Dakota | 14% | 9% | 10% | 9% |
| Tennessee | 22% | 53% | 16% | 36% |
| Texas | 24% | 27% | 20% | 20% |
| Utah | 27% | 58% | 16% | 56% |
| Vermont | 18% | 46% | 14% | 46% |
| Virginia | 21% | 26% | 16% | 17% |
| Washington | 25% | 28% | 16% | 27% |
| West Virginia | 22% | 48% | 18% | 48% |
| Wisconsin | 17% | 15% | 13% | 7% |
| Wyoming | 19% | 10% | 14% | 31% |
Methodology:
QuoteWizard evaluated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mental health data on each state’s frequency of anxiety or depression from April 2020 to May 2022. We then compared the data over time and across state, gender, age, educational and ethnic lines.
References:
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