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Areas with generally happy populations may also have high prevalence of suicide

By Staff Writer

Regions of the U.S. that are considered to be "happy" states typically have some of the highest rates of suicide in the nation, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization.

The findings of the investigation indicate that residents of Utah report the highest levels of life satisfaction, but the state ranks ninth among those with the most prominent prevalence of self-inflicted death. Conversely, individuals who live in New York were among the least satisfied with their lives, but the area was found to have the lowest rate of suicide in the country.

The researchers explained that unhappy people who live amongst cheerful individuals may feel an exacerbated sense of depression because they perceive that they are left out of the joy.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. The organization notes that males in this age demographic are five times more likely to die from self-inflicted harm than their female peers. Teens who exhibit depressed moods or suicidal ideation may benefit from troubled teens programs that are offered by therapeutic boarding schools.

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