Virginia is for happy people, according to a national ranking by Mental Health America. This analysis places the state in the top 20 of the nation, ranking the state as 18th for good mental health and 16th for low suicide rates.
The ranking reflected statistical associations between states' access-to-care facilities and their mental health outcomes, such as suicide rates, according to the report.
Paula Price, executive director of Mental Health America of Virginia, attributed the ranking to the fact that Virginians have a good deal of access to psychological treatments from both governmental and private providers. She added that another positive factor contributing to a state's ranking in this case is the emphasis the state places on mental health recovery.
"Fortunately in Virginia, the previous and current governors have focused their mental health departments on the importance of recovery," Price said. "That is so that people aren't trapped in their diagnosis; instead, programs are set up that help people move toward recovery and shift their focus on the rest of their life."
Price added that although Virginia ranked well in terms of overall mental health and suicide rates, it ranked poorly in "parity," the way in which mental health problems are treated in comparison to physical health problems. According to Price, Virginia laws do not require insurance companies to cover several mental health issues, including long-term medical treatment.
According to Leonard Carter, assistant director of Counseling and Psychological Services, University mental health rates are on par with national averages for college students.
"The national rates are about 44 percent of students who were so depressed they could not function, while U.Va.'s [students] are at about 39 percent," Carter said.
He a
.
dded that suicide rates also parallel national averages.
According to Carter, depression symptoms to look out for include a depressed mood lasting longer than a few days, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, thoughts of suicide and increased agitation.
-- compiled by Franny
Corneliussen
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