How does Utah's religious culture factor into the high incidence of depression?

By Lexie Kite

April 29, 2005 | Is Utah in the midst of a debilitating mental health crisis or a campaign for legitimate health care? The Beehive State, built on a firm foundation of productivity, self-reliance and perseverance, is being infiltrated by a few less-desirable traits: anxiety and depression.

Utahns lead the country in anti-depressant usage, nearly doubling the amount of prescriptions per person from 0.7 nationally to 1.1 locally, according to Express Scripts' annual drug trend report.

The blame for such startling statistics has been placed on a number of sources, the most prevalent and popular being the demanding culture of the dominant Latter-day Saint religion's effect on members and non-members alike. In Cache Valley, several individuals with experience and knowledge in the field of depression and anxiety are shedding some light on the relationship between LDS culture and its ties to anxiety and depression.

In his book Religion, Mental Health and the Latter-day Saints, Utah resident Dan Judd said the states' usage of anti-depressants does not indicate there is a higher level of depression in the state.

"Utahns are more educated per capita than residents of other states," he said. "So instead of trying to ignore mental problems or medicate it on our own with alcohol or something else, we tend to seek professional help. We try to address our problems through legal legitimate ways."

Thad Carlson, Logan resident and father of a son with six diagnosed neurological disorders, echoed Judd's remarks. "I think we aren't as prone to lean toward self-medication like alcohol and drugs," he said. "As healthy people, we try to search for things that make sense and contribute to our health."

Active in politics, religion, business and family life, Bobbie Coray of Logan has suffered with anxiety as long as she can recall. She said she believes proper medication -- not substance abuse -- is the key to maintaining a lifestyle free of the pains of mental illness.

"Many people with depression turn to alcohol without really thinking about it," she said. "So many alcoholics are really people who would have been better off being properly medicated, thinking of their anxiety or depression much as they would if they had diabetes and needed insulin."

Carlson said he believes society has a problem with taking more medication than is needed, but an even more serious issue with people not taking medications when they have a severe mental illness.

"You can't talk people out of anxiety and depression if they need medication," he said. "If the problem is a neurological and physical illness, it's just like cancer. You have to have medication to fix it."

While Utah's predominant religious culture evidently plays a role in answering questions regarding the high use of anti-depressants, the real issue is whether such a culture is contributing to the rate of mental illness or helping sufferers deal with its effects.

Susan Seiler, associate and clinical director of Bear River Mental Health, said cultural questions relating to mental illness cannot be easily answered. "I think life goes both ways," she said. "For some people, the significance of religious beliefs is comforting and supportive, but for others I think religion can compound the problem.

"It depends on the unique individual and how they understand themselves in context with the world at large," she said. "Mental illness deals with how the individual comes to be."

Carlson said, "Our religious culture can have an impact, whether it makes things more or less stressful. However, it doesn't cause the illness.

"The problem with mental illness is not culture, it is research, correct diagnosis and effective treatment," he said.

Gale Larson, president of the Cache Valley affiliate of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, said he believes LDS culture plays a role in the amount of depression and anxiety in Utah.

"I think mental health issues can be affected because of the dominant religious culture here," Larson said. "I believe those that feel like they can't measure up to the standards of the church can become depressed, but also those who are not a part of the culture can feel signs of depression."

For Coray, her LDS membership lessened the severity of her anxiety. "For me, it took away the anxiety. I never felt that I was not worthy or that church activities were overwhelming because for me they were so simple," she said. "As a matter of fact, I think the times that were the most calm were at sacrament meetings or Relief Society."

Carlson said he believes his son, suffering from several major neurological illnesses, is positively impacted by his experiences as a Latter-day Saint. "This culture helps him survive each day," he said. "It gives him hope and health. If you remove that from him, he would be desperate."

Cassandra Wood, a sophomore at Utah State University, has dealt with anxiety since moving to Logan two years ago. She attributes the onset of her anxiety to a more stressful lifestyle. "Since coming to college, I have dealt with having to live on my own for the first time," she said. "Relationships, loneliness and stress from school add up."

Wright said she doesn't blame religious demands for her anxiety, but does believe her ties to religion help comfort her when she feels overwhelmed.

Whether the LDS culture is contributing to the high rate of mental illness in Utah or helping sufferers deal with its effects, the debate will roll on. In the meantime, for those who experience anxiety and depression, help is near. Bear River Mental Health is Cache Valley's center for such issues, and Seiler said the resources needed for those suffering from mental illness are readily available.

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