Suicide rates high in happy U.S. states, research finds

By Staff Writer

Some of America's "happiest" states also have high suicide rates, according to new research.

The report, which appears in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, is based on a random selection of 1.3 million Americans as well as another sample of suicide decisions among 1 million U.S. residents. The findings were compiled by researchers from the University of Warwick, Hamilton College and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

They found that some of the states that ranked high in terms of overall happiness of their residents also had high suicide numbers. For example, Hawaii ranked second in average life satisfaction, but has the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation.

In addition, Utah was the top state for overall satisfaction yet it had the ninth highest suicide rate. On the other end of the spectrum, New York and New Jersey were both ranked in the 40s in regards to average happiness, but they were among the lowest states for suicide occurrence.

Researchers surmised that many depressed individuals compare their well-being to others around them. Thus, emotionally disturbed individuals may become more unstable if they are surrounded by happier people, which accentuates their dissatisfaction.

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