Frequent Mental Distress

Data Highlight:

Oklahoma ranks 41 (of 51) for frequent mental distress. South Dakota ranks the lowest at 10.6 percent, and New Hampshire ranks the highest at 20.6 percent. 4

Why We Care:

Women are nearly 30 percent more likely to report frequent mental distress than men. 102 This is consistent with findings that women are twice as likely to develop major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder than men, conditions which are both strongly associated with feelings of prolonged, persistent distress. 102 Persistent feelings of mental distress are associated with stressful life events like divorce, job change or the death of a loved one. 102 Additionally, individuals living in disinvested communities without access to adequate resources are more likely to experience frequent mental distress. 102

What We Can Do:

- Work to improve social cohesion and support systems as supportive communities can provide a protective factor, increasing resilience in the face of stressful events - Work to improve telehealth and health communication technology so accessing counseling and non-emergency mental health services is easier and less expensive

DEFINITION

During 2019, the percent of women who reported experiencing 14 days or more of poor mental health in the past month.4

15.6 percent

13.8 percent

OKLAHOMA

NATIONAL AVERAGE

Lookbook Vol. 2

p. 63