If religion offers peace that passes understanding, why do Mormons take more antidepressants than anyone else?

Question

"Utah residents currently use more antidepressant drugs, notably Prozac® (fluoxetine hydrochloride, introduced in 1987), than the residents of any other US state. This problem is clearly, closely and definitely linked to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Approximately 70% of Utahns are Mormons. Jim Jorgenson, director of pharmacy services for the University of Utah, confirmed that Utah has the highest percentage of anti-depressant use, hypothesizing that large families, larger in Utah than in other states, produce greater stress. (Large Utah families are primarily Mormon families)."
From http://home.teleport.com/~packham/prozac.htm

Why do you think that Mormons take more antidepressant medications than anyone else in the US?

By the way, the article was written by an LDS member.

Answer 1

For the reason stated probably.

Answer 2

It is exactly like the Bible says it is. A peace beyond understanding. I can only explain it as imagine the feeling you feel when you look at your child having the greatest time of their life or even you having the greatest time in your life. Just think of something you have experienced that you said to yourself you wished it would never end. Remember how you felt that life could not possibly get any better than this the feeling that nothing would be able to take the feeling of joy from you. Well that is just an inkling of what God's peace feels like. I mean even when bad things happen you will know that God is in control, that no matter what has happened, it is only temporary and that ultimately God will be glorified for it all the more when it is over. It is just incredible.

Answer 3

I think you would need to check into more statistics before making a blanket statement like that one.
As an example, more antidepressants are used by people with higher educations, as well. Does that mean that going to college causes depression? Or does it mean that college grads tend to have the financial means, as well as mind-set, to seek treatment, while the people form the lower socio-economic strata often cannot. Poorer, less educated people often turn to alcohol and street drugs to try to deal with their depression and feelings of hopelessness.
Mormons as a whole (please forgive the generalization) are better educated and financially stable (despite large families) than the general population. Family stability, no drugs and alcohol, and an emphasis on higher education are part of their belief system and is supported within their community.
Often there is more to "facts and statistics" than meets the eye.

P.S. I am not Mormon, so I'm not saying this to defend the religion.

Answer 4

There are more members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints outside the United States than in.

I am soooo sick of people confusing the population and of one state with all the members all over the world.

edit - let me just explain further my gripe about this. Utah also has a high bankruptcy rate - and people automatically say "oh, it must be because of the LDS church." when really the LDS church teaches us over and over again to avoid debt and remain self-sufficient. It doesn't make sense to say that it's because of the church. Yes, there is a unique culture in Utah, but it's not fair to say that everything that happens there (good or bad) is because of the doctrines of one church.

Answer 5

Hello =)

Well,....

First, all the Christians who are going to say negative things about the LDS faith....SHAME ON YOU!!! Mormons and Catholics are Christians Too....so just hush up....their beliefs are just as valid as yours, even though some of the practices of the Mormons seem a little far-fetched to most of us, doesn't mean they are any less valid.

That being said, however, I think that the combination of having large families, and the demands that the Mormon Church makes upon its membership (they are a very resource-demanding faith), makes the practicality of family life very difficult....

Financial stress is a serious issue among people of all faiths, including atheists, and I think that would explain the high use of antidepressants. Imagine having to send 7 or 8 kids to college, and, at the same time, keep giving 10% of your gross income to the church, faithfully, without exception?? My goodness, no wonder they are depressed....Mortgages, health-care costs, and so forth in the 21st century?? But yet, with or without anti-depressants, they manage to do it. We should respect that level of dedication in them, and not question it....

Even if some of the pillars of their faith seem a little silly to us, Mormons themselves are very serious practitioners, and very family-oriented people. We really need to recognize that about them.....

Namaste,

--Tom

Answer 6

This is the problem with statistics. Mormons DO NOT take more anti-depressants than any other state.... See, its the other 30% of the population left over that is so miserably depressed having to live alongside such large, happy families that THEY are taking all the Prozac in town!!!!!

Answer 7

If people generalize with statistics then try these statistics also.

Statistically, of all the United States, Utah is...

First in charitable giving.
First in scientists and household computers.
First in the number of citizens under 17 years old.
(Accurate as of 2006, 1999(?). See Ford Motor and Adherents.com.)
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Largely because of the influence of the LDS Church, of all the United States Utah has the lowest (or nearly lowest) rate of...

Teen pregnancy and abortion
Smoking (including teen smoking)
Alcohol use
Cancer cases
Heart disease (20% below the national average)
Work days missed within a 30-day period due to physical or mental illness
Death
Infant mortality
(Accurate as of 2006, 1999(?). See Ford Motor and Adherents.com.)
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Being Mormon has some other unexpected benefits...

Active Mormons are seven times less likely to commit suicide.
Mormons live several years longer than the national average.
(Accurate as of 1999(?), 1996. See Adherents.com.)

Answer 8

There is also high suicide rates. Lots of depression support groups particularly for women. The reason is the pressure to be perfect according to mormon beliefs. It is almost impossible to acheive it and causes issues. This is a common thing in that religion. I have seen it personally with mormon friends of mine.

Answer 9

they might not have truely accepted Jesus as their savior and brought their problems unto him. if hen they pray they dont let god take care of the issues, the issues will get bigger and bigger

Answer 10

all i know is that a lot of what they believe is false teaching