The darkness of winter descends, snow falls and the mercury plummets. Is this a recipe for depression?

The darkness of winter descends, snow falls and the mercury plummets. Is this a recipe for depression?

Apparently quite the opposite. In a nationwide ranking on depression and suicide rates released Wednesday, most states in the Upper Midwest ranked among the blissfully happy -- or, at least, the least depressed -- in the top 10.

Minnesota was No. 6, below Iowa at No. 4. Those absolutely giddy South Dakotans topped the list. North Dakota ranked No. 9. Wisconsin was a bit morose, at No. 30.

The most depressed state in the country? Utah, followed by West Virginia and Kentucky.

The report, called Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States, was released by Mental Health America, a nonprofit group of mental health professionals and advocates.

Minnesotans reported far fewer "poor mental health days" than the national average -- 2.37 in the month before a federal government survey, compared with 3.31 nationally.

About 7 percent of adults said they had major depressive episodes or serious psychological distress, below the national average. However, 9 percent of adolescents reported those symptoms, nearly the same as nationally.

The report is not merely a light-hearted look at happy states, said David Shern, president of Health America.

"Regardless of where each state ranks, there is much room for improvement," he said. Genetics and life experiences determine a person's mental health, he said, but access to good mental health care significantly improves how well people cope.

The cost of depression goes beyond the impact on a person and family, the study noted. It is one of the most common of mental illnesses and the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15 to 44. Depressed employees cost U.S. businesses an estimated $31 billion in lost work time, the report said.

The information on which the state rankings were based came from two federal surveys conducted by federal agencies in each state and the District of Columbia: the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey.

While not included in the final ranking of states, the study also compared suicide rates among the states, where Minnesota was 13th lowest.

Warren Wolfe • 612-673-7253