15 Most Depressed States in the US

Published on May 13, 2024 at 7:57 pm by Laiba Immad in Economy, News

In this article, we will be taking a look at the 15 most depressed states in the US. If you are not interested in learning about the global and regional trends in the depression treatment market, head straight to the 5 Most Depressed States in the US.

Global and Regional Trends in the Depression Treatment Market

The global depression treatment market is expected to reach USD 16.14 billion by 2030, growing from USD 11.31 billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. The North American region which is led by the U.S., emerged as the most significant market, accounting for a 44.11% share of global revenue in 2022. Around 29% of Americans in 2023 were diagnosed with depression in their lifetime and 17.8% of the people were currently fighting depression. This was the highest ever rate recorded since 2015. The 2023 CDC data showed that the age-standardized depression prevalence ranged from 12.7% in Hawaii to 27.5% in West Virginia, with a median of 19.9% in the US.

Globally, depression is a major contributor to disability, with the World Health Organization estimating that over 280 million people worldwide have depression. Depression is most common in the 45-64 age group, affecting 40% of those with depression in the U.S.

If we talk about Asia, The Depressive Disorders market in Asia is forecasted to grow by 1.36% from 2024 to 2028, reaching €5.90 billion in 2028. In Southeast Asia, the market is expected to grow by 0.89% during the same period, with a market volume of US$0.86 billion in 2028.

Drugs dominate the depression treatment market globally, comprising over 99.4% of the demand share in 2021. ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) market is one of the fastest-growing depression treatments when it comes to treating depression which is set to double by 2030, propelled by up to 90% response rate in MDD cases. Antidepressant usage has also risen in the US, with 13.2% of adults, especially women, reported as users. Leading medications like Sertraline, Trazodone, Fluoxetine, and Bupropion treat various conditions beyond depression, including OCD, social anxiety, panic disorder, GAD, and PTSD, targeting brain neurotransmitter activity.

Recent surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau reveal higher rates of depression among young adults in the LGBT community. Additionally, the increasing reliance on antidepressants in the U.S. is evident, with Sertraline (Zoloft) being the most prescribed psychiatric medication in 2020.

Leading Innovations in Depression Treatment

If we talk about health companies that are actively working to treat depression, include Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB), Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAGE), and Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXSM) among others. Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB)’s most significant contribution to the depression treatment landscape is zuranolone, a once-daily, 14-day investigational drug that was developed in partnership with Sage Therapeutics. Financially, Biogen’s total revenue declined 7% year-over-year to $2.3 billion in Q1 2024 which was driven by a 3% drop in product revenue and significant reductions in contract manufacturing and other revenues. Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB)’s revenue from anti-CD20 therapeutics and other product lines declined, partially offset by a 2% increase in biosimilar revenue. Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) also launched new products like Leqembi for Alzheimer’s during the same time frame.

Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAGE) is one of the biggest biopharmaceutical companies. The company has made significant strides in the field of depression treatment with the development of ZURZUVAE (zuranolone) which is a rapid-acting oral medication approved by the FDA for postpartum depression (PPD). In addition to ZURZUVAE, Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAGE) has another promising candidate, zuranolone (SAGE-217) which is currently in development for major depressive disorder (MDD). Their dalzanemdor (SAGE-718) is also being investigated for cognitive impairment in Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and mild dementia. Financially, in Q1 2024, Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAGE) reported total revenue of $7.9 million, exceeding estimates of $5.66 million which was driven by $6.2 million in collaboration revenue from ZURZUVAE. Their research & development expenses decreased 23% year-over-year to $71.7 million during the same period.

Last but not least, Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXSM) has also been contributing to treating depression. Axsome’s major contribution is AUVELITY (dextromethorphan-bupropion) which is an oral medication approved by the FDA in 2022 for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. In addition to AUVELITY, Axsome has a robust pipeline of investigational therapies targeting various CNS disorders. Financially, Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXSM) reported a total net product revenue of $75.0 million for Q1 2024. Their Auvelity’s net product sales reached $51.5 million in Q1 2024, while Sunosi ‘s net product revenue reached $23.5 million in Q1 2024, a 17% increase over Q1 2023.

Pixabay/Public Domain

Our Methodology

For our methodology, we have ranked the most depressed states in the US based on depression rates per 100,000 people in these states as of 2022. Since the data was available for the overall depression prevalence rate in these states, we did some calculations to fin out the rates per 100,000 population. Firstly, We multiplied depression rates for each state with their total populations and then the resulting answer was divided by the total population again. The result was further multiplied by 100,000 to get per 100,000 rates.

Here is our list of the 15 most depressed states in the US.

15. Oregon

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 24,000

Oregon stands among the US states that have the most seasonal depression. The depression rate per 100,000 people stands at 24,000. In 2023, 12.7% of Oregon youth aged 12–17 experienced a major depressive episode, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In terms of treatment, Oregon has a limited number of resources for depression, particularly for severe cases. The state has only 40 beds for the most acute cases of youth mental illness, and many areas lack access to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

14. Alabama

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 24,008

Alabama stands among the most depressed states in the US with a depression prevalence rate of 24,008 per 100,000 people. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that in 2014-2015, an annual average of about 148,000 adults aged 18 or older (4.0% of all adults) in Alabama had serious thoughts of suicide. Additionally, an annual average of about 42,000 adolescents aged 12-17 (11.0% of all adolescents) in Alabama experienced a major depressive episode in 2014-2015. According to a national study analyzing data from 2008-2016, among those with depression in the United States, 40% were aged 45-64 years, and 61% were female.

13. Montana

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 24,490

The depression prevalence rate in Montana is 24,490 per 100,000 people. The 2018 BRFSS data showed that among Montana adults who reported ever being diagnosed with depression and experiencing frequent mental distress were 56.2% female, compared to 43.8% male. The highest depression prevalence was among those aged 35-44 years (14.7%), followed by those aged 45-54 years (13.4%).

12. Vermont

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 24,804

Vermont has one of the highest depression rates in the US with around 24,804 per 100,000 people being depressed. Lower income levels and poverty are the two most common reasons for depression in the state with a 2021 report highlighting that 33% of low-income Vermont adults reported poor mental health. In 2021, 26% of adults aged 18-44 reported poor mental health. LGBTQ+ adults in Vermont had a 31% rate of poor mental health in 2021 while adults with disabilities reported a 33% rate of poor mental health in the same year. Vermont is one of the most saddest states in the US.

11. Washington

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 25,000

Around 25,000 per 100,000 people are depressed in Washington. Around 22% of youth in Washington seriously considered suicide in 2021, up 6% since 2011.

10. Ohio

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 25,000

Ohio stands among the top 10 depressed states in the US with a depression rate of 25,000 per 100,000 people. The prevalence of depression in Ohio is higher than the national average, with one in four adults (25%) in Franklin County having been diagnosed with depression. The opioid epidemic and its impacts have also played a significant role in the state’s mental health crisis and rising depression cases.

9. New Hampshire

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 25,290

New Hampshire is one of the most depressed states in America. 92,510 people in New Hampshire lack access to sufficient mental health professionals in their communities.

8. Kentucky

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 25,830

Kentucky is one of the top 10 depressed states in the US. The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders (DAD) among Kentucky Medicaid patients increased from 30.8% in 2012 to 36.3% in 2019, according to a study based on Kentucky Medicaid. This translates to over 325,000 cases of DAD among Kentucky Medicaid patients in 2019. The study found that the utilization of pharmacologic treatment (medication) for DAD among Kentucky Medicaid patients increased from 62.9% in 2012 to 67.3% in 2019. However, the utilization of psychosocial therapies (counseling, psychotherapy) remained low, increasing only slightly from 10.9% in 2012 to 13.7% in 2019.

7. Maine

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 26,311

The depression rate in Maine is 26,311 per 100,000 people. In 2019, nearly 1 in 3 high school students in Maine felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more. Talking about Maine, the Lewiston city in the state is one of the five cities in the US with the highest depression rates. In 2018, about 1 in 10 Maine women with a recent birth suffered from postpartum depression, with higher rates among those with lower incomes and education levels.

6. Louisiana

Depression Rate per 100,000 People: 26,402

Louisiana stands sixth among the most depressed states in the US with a depression prevalence rate of 26,402 per 100,000 people. With a total population of around 4.6 million people in Louisiana as of 2022, this translates to over 1 million adults potentially experiencing depression. Younger adults, particularly those aged 18-24 years, tend to have higher rates of depression compared to older age groups. From 2019 to 2021, the percentage of Louisiana citizens reporting a history of depression increased from 23.9% to 26.4%.

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