Huntington/Charleston Most Depressed Cities in America

[CoolBreeze]

Are you depressed? More people in our part of the region say yes to that question than in other part of the country.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. According to a Gallup poll, the Huntington/Ashland/Ironton area ranks No. 1 in the nation regarding the number of people who say they've been diagnosed with depression. One in three people answer yes to that diagnosis.

Charleston ranks number three, with a little more than 25 percent saying yes.

The poll not only documents depression, but also the amount of low productivity -- another poll led by the Huntington area. Charleston ranks seventh there. Gallup ties the depression level to the economy.

“I’m just trying to scrape pennies for diapers and wipes,” Leslie Harris said.
Harris makes no bones about it -- she's depressed. Doctors have told her so.
“They've prescribed a number of different medications for me,” she said.

She's been unemployed for three years, trying to provide for her daughter and watched her economic situation go from bad to worse.
“Every time you go to look for a job you just keep getting knocked down,” Harris said.
“We have seen a spike in a number of people who come in depressed because of the economy,” said Dr. Chuck Clements, a family practice physician.

Clements says there's no doubt the level of patients feeling low has spiked recently.
“It’s so easy for doctors to prescribe a pill, and we may do too much of that," Clements said. "But, I also think exercise is just as good. It can eliminate anxiety, which is a huge mood booster.”

Billy Clark agrees medicine is not always the best answer. He's also currently unemployed, but he's not letting depression get the best of him.
“I try to think positive and have a good attitude,” Clark said.
For a bit of a break, he's also planning a trip next week to California -- Redding to be exact, which happens to be the second most depressed city on the list.

“At least I'll move up a notch. That's funny," he said.
Gallup polled nearly 300 metro areas around the country, calling more than 250,000 people at random to get to these results. Six of the top 10 most depressed areas are in Appalachia.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Hunt ... 73413.html

[Scott Reppert]

Does this mean that everything Blenko turns out could be considered "depression glass"?

[jag]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18897

[Jay Nunley]

These people have obviously never been to Logan, Williamson, or Welch.

They certainly haven't been to any city in Ohio (with the exception of Athens which kicks ass).

[Hoosier Daddy]

These people have obviously never been to Logan, Williamson, or Welch.

Welch and MackDowell County is probably the most depressing place I've ever seen in West Virginia.

They certainly haven't been to any city in Ohio (with the exception of Athens which kicks ass).

Most of Ohio is OK. If you want depressing in Ohio, visit Steubenville.

Or Youngstown, where the hillbillies meet the 'hood.

Athens does kick ass. Pick a weekend and go to a party.

[weaver]

He's also currently unemployed, but he's not letting depression get the best of him. ... For a bit of a break, he's also planning a trip next week to California

Why not go to Disneyland, while he's at it? It's the happiest place on earth, I hear.