Comments on: Happy Valley Depression

By: Tearese

Tearese — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:05:29 +0000

Yes, and I’ve heard tons of other statistics like highest teen suicide rate, highest use of ADHD drugs in children, etc. But like you said, a correlation of facts doesn’t denote a cause and effect, i.e. church members= these problems or vice versa.
I could see culture being a part of it. Or maybe people report these things more in the state?

By: m

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:03:16 +0000

@Ailene: That’s true. I think the point the article is trying to make is that Utah IS worse than other states. But they’re doing it in a very sensationalist manner with no data to back up their claims.

@Charlotte: I totally agree with you.

@Laura: Good suggestion. I’ve got one now. Sustain away!

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:27:22 +0000

Being an LDS woman with depression (who lives outside Utah) I was outraged when I read the article on ABCnews.com. What a horrible treatment of a complicated topic. I’m with Charlotte on this one; talk about yellow journalism. Also, I’ve gotta say that maybe some of it is the culture. I am very open about my depression (I blog about it for the entire internet to read!) and my ward members are supportive. Some of them don’t understand and make weird comments, but nothing about the gospel itself has made my depression worse. If anything, it has taken a combination of prayer, scripture study, medicine and therapy to help me understand and get a handle on my depression.

Oh and M, you need a “sustain this” button! This post is so relevant to the bloggernacle!

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:31:05 +0000

First things first: I think I cracked a rib from laughing so hard at your State’s Postcards. Seriously, how do you think of this stuff??

Secondly, you are completely right about this being a prime example of yellow journalism. It’s amazing that this even made it past an editor. Also - the picture?? Could that have been any more provocative and ridiculous?

Third, the article does however raise an interesting point about Mormon culture in Utah. Note that I am NOT saying it has anything whatsoever to do with the LDS church. This is one of the main reasons that I didn’t like living in Utah and why we consciously decided not to raise our kids in Utah: people in Utah get the culture confused with the religion on a regular basis. The religion is perfect and beautiful and the best thing that has ever happened to me. The culture almost destroyed me. And I don’t say that lightly. Ironically, many things that the culture espouses run directly against the Church’s actual teachings.

In the end, I feel for Wendy. In a different situation (as in, not speaking to a reporter) I might have made similar comments. Although I would have tried hard to differentiate between the culture and the religion.

By: Ailene Hert

Ailene Hert — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:29:25 +0000

I’d say that those statistics are only alarming if they are alarmingly high compared to that of other states. Somehow, I don’t see that being the case.