• Hawaii takes the crown with the smallest percentage of people reporting depression at 12.5.

• New Jersey is second, while Nebraska comes in third place.

• Tennessee takes the bottom spot, with 29.2% of its population reporting a form of depression.

A new study by mental health site MentalHealthRehabs.com reveals that Hawaii is US’ happiest state.

The study compared the percentage reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of people over 18 who were told to have a form of depression, to the population of each state to discover, based on the lower percentages, which state can be considered the happiest in the country.

Hawaii comes in first place with 12.5% of its population reporting a form of depression, slightly over 180,000 people compared to its population of 1,440,196. Hawaii being an archipelago, it is safe to assume that some reasons for this might be the therapeutic functions of the ocean and access to natural beauty, as well as the opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation.

However, it’s important to underline that while Hawaii is a popular tourist destination to relax and unwind, this does not necessarily apply to its citizens, as the large majority conducts a normal and even stress-prone lifestyle just like everyone else.

Second on the list is New Jersey with 14.6% of people above 18 reporting a form of depression. Out of over 9 million people, 1,352,208 are revealed to have this type of mental health issue. The factors that might influence this might be socio-economic, such as a higher quality of life, and employment opportunities, but also cultural, as in areas where there is less stigma surrounding mental illness and seeking professional help is encouraged, individuals may be more likely to seek treatment for depression.

Nebraska ranks third with 334,547 out of 1,967,923 people disclosing suffering from a form of depression, the equivalent to 17%. People in Nebraska might experience lower rates of depression due to factors such as tight-knit communities that foster strong social support networks, a lower cost of living leading to reduced financial stress, and a generally slower pace of life that promotes well-being.

Further down on the list, Illinois is fourth, with 17.7% of people reporting depression, while Florida and New York tie with 17.8% in fifth place.

While in Illinois, there are plenty of diverse cultural and recreational opportunities in cities like Chicago, Florida’s mostly sunny weather and outdoorsy lifestyle can be contributory factors to better mental health. New York residents, on the other hand, may experience lower depression rates thanks to the state's wealth of mental health services, cultural diversity, and abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth.

On the other side of the list, Tennessee in first place and West Virginia and Oklahoma tied in second place, are the states where the depression rate is the highest, with 29.2 and 26.9, respectively.

Serene Gato, Editor of MentalHealthRehabs.com commented on the findings: “While using depression rates alone to determine the "happiest state" can be challenging, it's important to recognize that factors influencing overall well-being and quality of life also impact mental health. Access to healthcare, strong social connections, cultural diversity, outdoor activities, and economic stability all play significant roles. So, while we may not have all the answers as to why some areas have lower rates of mental health issues, considering these aspects is logical as they contribute to a better understanding of regional differences in mental health and overall happiness.”