Utah No. 1 State for Depression...

[kaytidid]

Originally Posted by lolagranola

Also, the big families...not neccesarily the kids, but the big extended family of brothers and sisters, aunts, cousins, seen on a frequent basis may act as a support net to encourage someone who is showing signs of depression to go to the doctor.

OR, the big extended family can put you over the edge sometimes...

[chazcrew]

I agree with both Lola and Kaytidid. I know plenty of people who self-medicate with alcohol, but that's not an option for me. Legal drugs are. And in my case, an extended family is a good thing, supportive and uplifting. But I also know plenty of people whose extended family is enough to drive them to drink (if they were allowed, lol).

[ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?]

The LDS lifestyle does have documented health benefits with statistically significant reductions for a variety of ailments accross the board. Those who fast the first Sunday of every month have a 40% less likelyhood for coronary artery disease alone.

Back in 1985 a descendant of one of the original pioneers passed at age 105, surviving three husbands (what happened to one spouse for eternity?....lol).

Depression could be a tradeoff of the mechanics of the lifestyle, although favoring longevity, causing a depressed state that requires medication. But longevity and depression tend to be mutually exlcusive of one another, so the depression satisitic may be skewed, or there may be more to it than a tallying of dispensed medications.