Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Utah has recently been ranked by WalletHub as the happiest state in America.
This, however, is only part of the overall picture. As Shakespeare warned, “All that glitters is not gold.”
The Beehive State ranked 48th for mental health in 2002, according to Mental Health America, indicating high rates of mental illness and significantly lower access to care.
This unfortunate situation shouldn’t exist in Utah, but it does. It suggests that for all of its beauty, outdoor activities and economic well-being, Utah’s happiness hides a dark underbelly. Utah, however, does not stand alone in this tragic dichotomy.
Other states have a similar problem: outward factors that should favor happiness but don’t, with serious mental illness the result. There is a glimmer of hope, however, found in the survey itself.
If Utah’s low access to mental health care were to improve significantly, perhaps the mental health of its residents would also improve. And other states should take notice: Poor mental health can be treated if we provide adequate mental health care instead of burying our heads in the sand and ignoring the problem.
