Almost 31% of Arkansans experience symptoms of depression, according to a University of Arkansas health survey out Wednesday — notably higher than the roughly 23% reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why it matters: Depression is a major contributor to mortality, morbidity, disability and economic costs, the CDC notes.
The big picture: The Arkansas Health Survey provides a detailed description of the state’s mental and physical health, mapping conditions in more than 800 census tracts. Arkansas is only the second state in the U.S., along with California, to conduct this level of community-specific health analysis, researchers said.
- With nearly 10,000 responses collected from all 75 counties, the group says it’s the largest representative health survey in the state’s history, showing prevalence of more than 30 different indicators, including tobacco use, obesity and alcohol abuse.
State of play: Researchers said there’s a reason why the stats may differ.The CDC measure reflects whether someone has ever been diagnosed with depression by a medical professional.
- The Arkansas survey uses a symptom-based screening tool to measure current symptoms and capture people experiencing symptoms of depression, rather than relying on past diagnoses.
What they found: Most counties cluster near the state average, but 140 of the census tracts have depression rates of 40% or higher — pockets that county-level averages hide.
- Nearly 30% of those areas are rural, where mental health resources are most limited.
- Researchers say contextual factors like job losses, poverty and infant mortality could drive higher local rates.
What they’re saying: “The real power of the Arkansas Health Survey is to link its results with other data to gather a three-dimensional picture of what’s happening in a community, because depression is more of an environmental condition than a biological one,” Ana Bridges, UA professor of psychological science, said in the release.
- “Most people who meet the criteria for depression do not get help,” she noted.
Context: The Arkansas Health Survey is a collaboration among UA, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Arkansas Health Equity and Access Lab…