Do Wisconsinites Experience More Depression Than Other Americans?

If you’re a fellow citizen of Wisconsin, you probably agree with us that we live in a beautiful state. Of course, we also appreciate the fact that cloudy days are common here. Gloomy weather can impact our thoughts, so let’s consider whether Wisconsinites like us experience depression more frequently than folks in the rest of our nation.

Noteworthy Climate Facts About Our Locale

Milwaukee ranks among the cloudiest cities in the United States when partial cloudiness is the baseline. Annually, 75% of our area’s days are at least partially cloudy.

Additionally, our state’s largest city sits among the five coldest cities in the US.

We get our fair share of precipitation, too. Milwaukee averages nearly 125 days with rain, sleet or snow each year.

How Wisconsin’s Population Compares With Other Americans Regarding Depression

Our high levels of precipitation and clouds might lead someone to believe that depression is likelier in Wisconsin. Certainly, every case of depression is a serious matter that is best addressed by healthcare professionals. Still, data published by America’s Health Rankings shows us the following:

• Across the US, 21.7% of people report ever being diagnosed with a depressive disorder.
• Wisconsin’s value is 23.0%, and the state ranks 33rd in the nation.
• Across the northern latitudes, seven states rank lower than Wisconsin.

Multiple Factors Contribute to Our Mental Health

While the skies above us may play a role in depression, the spectrum of factors that impact our mental well-being is broad and diverse. For example, you may be impacted by your family’s history, recent stress, distant trauma or other factors.

If you are currently muddling through depression, we hope you’ll talk to us at American Behavioral Clinics. With seven locations around Milwaukee and an expert team of mental health professionals, we can help you look forward to tomorrow again.