During 2020, approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States reported having ever received a diagnosis of depression by a health care provider. The prevalence of depression was higher in women, younger adults and adults with lower levels of education, according to 2023 data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Louisiana ranks the seventh most depressed state in the nation among adults, with 25.7% of adults reporting ever being told by a health professional that they had a depressive disorder — well above the national average of 22%, the CDC said.
Symptoms of depression — such as hopelessness, loss of interest and fatigue — can impact all aspects of a person’s life, including how they think, feel and handle daily activities.
Around 80% of adults with depression report at least some difficulty performing work, home or social activities.
Hawaii and New Jersey tied for the having the smallest percentage of adults reporting a diagnosis of depression with 13.9% of adults, followed by Florida (16.3%), New York (16.4%) and California (17%).
West Virginia with 31.1% of its adult population reporting a diagnosis of depression leads the nation, followed by Tennessee (27.3%), Utah (26.1%) and Maine, Oregon and Vermont (all at 25.8%) round out the most depressed state rankings.
