Why is the supposed "Greatest Country In the World" consistently the 2nd or 3rd most depressed country in the world? What is the US doing wrong?

[t-8900]

https://www.cbsnews.com/media/worlds-most-depressed-countries/
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/depression-rates-by-country
https://delusionalbubble.com/top-10-most-depressed-countries-in-the-world-delusional-bubble/

[aWes0MeNeSs]

Unpopular opinion, but I honestly think that we're largely over-diagnosed and over-medicated as a society, for one. I was put on SSRIs as a teen for "anxiety" (a. k. a. average teenage growing pains; I was not listened to when I said I did not feel any anxiety that was out of the ordinary, but instead told that I wasn't intelligent enough to recognize my own feelings and that people with fancy degrees knew more about what I was feeling than I did 🤬), which in turn created depression that only got worse until I got off of the damn things. I'm far from the only person to have dealt with this, and even have quite a few friends I've met who went through the same thing when they were younger. Children being put on meds for not acting like mini 35-year-olds (or being medicated as a substitute for boundaries and discipline), teens being medicated for being self conscious and insecure (newsflash: that is a normal part of being a teen, and everyone, and I mean, EVERYONE, experiences anxiety), and people in general being put on medications for problems that don't require it are all a part of this epidemic, in my opinion. Psychiatric meds can really mess with a person's head if said person does not have the chemical imbalance those meds are designed to treat. Society has also gone the way of wanting to take pills to solve their problems rather than doing what they need to do to work through them (and before I get flamed, I am NOT talking about legitimate chemical imbalances, yet problems that the person is fully in control of and can be changed without any brain altering chemicals). Depression is often a side effect of many of these drugs, ironically including antidepressants (for example, Zoloft antidepressants are what created my depression and have worsened it for a lot of others, and they are INFAMOUS for this sort of thing). I know many people don't like hearing anything negative about the psychology/psychiatry industry, but I can't help but notice that the mental illness and suicide rates have only gotten worse with psychiatric drugs becoming the new norm, and based off of my own experiences (which are not so rare and many others have reported experiencing very similar effects), it doesn't seem to be a coincidence.

Another thing is that social media and the culture surrounding it has created a lot of issues with people, I believe. It seems to bring out the worst in some people, and cause a lot of insecurity and even obsession in some as well. Some people also get addicted to it.

[t-8900]

I was on Paxil, Propranolol, and Clonazepam. I know what you mean! Only thing I would add to this is the shitty work/life balance that kind of kills everything from marriage and relationships... to the actual worker drone.

[aWes0MeNeSs]

Yeah, I think that definitely could contribute to it for some people! I'm very fortunate in this area (the work/life balance; though I have a rather inconsistent and weird schedule at times, which can get annoying when trying to plan things).

[t-8900]

yeah there should be a law for fixed hours. if they have to hire 2 employees so be it. Overtime should not be able to be mandatory but it should still be offered.

[menina]

Interesting question. I don't live in the US but I guess that this has to do will the divisions between the American people, the healthcare system and I guess that you work too much.
I'm surprised to see that the country where I live is not the most depressed and I'm happy to see that my country is one of the least depressed.

[t-8900]

thats great news! Some of us are born with a little more luck than others lol. I do not consider being an American all it's cracked up to be tbh. People in Europe seem so much more relaxed in general too lol.

[menina]

Yes, it is for my country.
"Some of us are born with a little more luck than others" - You mean in US or in general?
Europe has its own problems and dangers...

[t-8900]

@menina of course it does, just as every other place. But... people make more sense there sometimes >.> lol

And since Europe is a continent whereas we're just a giant nation over here I think maybe its easier to govern and contend with smaller groups? Could be wrong but the giant collective here is rarely if ever happy with things because we are so opposed to each other yet share a giant boarder. The US would be great if the Federal gov was extremely limited (as was intended) and mega corporations were kept in check.

[menina]

That's true. Hummm I know don't about the people make more sense there sometimes part... 🤔

Yes it's easier but there are also conflicts between the countries and they all have their own policies and beliefs. I still think that many things are better in the US than in Europe.

[t-8900]

@menina from what I understand about many of the places I was looking marriage and family structure is taken more seriously. Maybe not in like Germany, UK, Sweden, etc. But I feel like in other parts yes that is the case. Maybe because many still have deeply rooted traditions.

[menina]

It is but there are less people choosing to marry too. It's true that they have deeply rooted traditions but that isn't always a good sign to me. I see it as living in the past and not wanting to move on.

[t-8900]

@menina I think it depends on what it is. Like we have cast away a lot of traditions here in our country... and people dont seem to value others much anymore as a result. Everyone lives only for themselves and only for the moment. We have a lot of suicides here in our country, a lot of pedophilia, a lot of infidelity, a lot of abortions. Are the out of wedlock children on the rise there too?

Maybe I am not so well informed as I previously thought. I'm seeing more and more of this polyamory and it scares me because I'm all about monogamy and all about dedication and loyalty. But I feel like it's all evaporating before my eyes and like I'm a man out of time tbh. I was raised to venerate the wife and honor the marriage vows and it was always important to me. I'm okay with equality of the sex, in fact I encourage it. But my worry is that instead of bringing us to an equal footing men are going to be vilified for sins of those that came long, long before them. This new world we are entering, this new era. I don't feel like I belong or have a place in it because of my traditional roots. I tried conforming but all's I felt was sadness instead and it all makes me feel like love is a thing of the past. :(

[menina]

I see what you mean. I don't think that living for yourself is a bad thing as long as you're not harming yourself and other people. I don't judge people who commit suicide but pedophilia and infidelity are totally wrong.

"Are the out of wedlock children on the rise there too?" - I can't speak for other countries but I do know that they're on the rise in the country where I live.

I'm not ok with polyamory relationships either but if people want to be in them in them is their life, their choice. Honestly I don't believe that there will equality between genders ever but I get your point. Sometimes I also think that love no longer exists even though I'm not that traditional.
"

[t-8900]

@menina its not poly relations in and of themselves. its the fear of them becoming the majority/popular way of going about things. For people like me who are Demisexual that's a deeply terrifying prospect. It's very daunting if you want to raise a family.

[menina]

I don't think it will become majority. I'm sure you can still find demisexual people too.

[t-8900]

I hope... T. T

[menina]

I believe you will. :)

[MCheetah]

I'd say there are more depressed countries on here, like North Korea (obviously), Venezuela, or half of Africa, but there's not exactly anyone there doing depression surveys or going around asking its citizens how sad do you feel today. None of these lists even mentioned Greenland, South Korea and Japan, three countries with the highest suicide rates in the world (pretty sure you can't be suicidal without being depressed first). So at least some of that data is inaccurate or missing major locations.

Out of the industrialized, modern countries, I'd say overpopulation and corrupt government has a LARGE part in it. Like the US, India, and Brazil. Personally, I'd say you can't get more depressing anywhere on Earth than North Korea. Although west China (where all the concentration camps full of Uighur Muslims are located at). Then, you'd have much of Africa, especially the Congo. Then, much of South America, like Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela.

If you actually look at an economics map of the world, you'd notice that pretty much just North America, Europe, Australia/NZ, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan have wealth (plus Libya, Dubai, and Chile, for some reason; probably oil money). I SERIOUSLY doubt that all of these places are legitimately the "most depressed in the world." We likely just don't hear about how hard they have it in Estonia, east Russia, 90% of South America, or 95% of Africa.

[CharlesScene]

This is truly an amazing question, that while in college during my phycology class we got to study for a bit. There is no true correct answer to this, as there is to many variables

Based on what I learned in that class and just the opinion of my professor, the major reasoning is Americans are lonely workers. We spend most of our week working, competing with one and another for the next big promotion, at hopes we can make a nice big salary. Forcing us into, not having much time to spend with family and friends.

Also, I would say most Americans that believe the U. S. is number 1 is really only saying that because, it is where they are from. Not really basing it on a stat or anything like that

[t-8900]

ah a fellow Psychology student! " the major reasoning is Americans are lonely workers. We spend most of our week working, competing with one and another" AAAND that's it exactly. That's the #1 reason that leads to so many other issues! Isolation and loneliness, self consciousness, infidelity, boredom, frustration, it all starts here!

PS: I'm no expert I just took some AP courses back in High School. Fun subject! :D

[CharlesScene]

I am not expert neither, I majored in Sports Management and took this course for credit reasonings and just basically quoted what my teacher taught us over this subject. I am glad that you like my answer though, I hope one day our leaders will start to look towards experts in the mental health field for solutions on how to fix this issue. I did however, enjoy the heck out of that class, I got to learn plenty about people and how we react to things, as well as learn more about myself. I am glad you enjoyed as well

[t-8900]

there was something I was watching about why Ireland is so much happier than most countries in the world. They have a fully paid for health care system, 34 hour work weeks, 6 months paid leave for both parents to be with their new baby, and 2 months paid vacation every year... NOW THAT is how you treat your workers!

[CharlesScene]

Well, time for me to learn the Irish language, I know where I am moving to. With health care being paid and 2 months per year, I would still have plenty of time to travel home, see my family, and have extra money in my pocket to make this happen

[t-8900]

@CharlesScene HAHA I hear you. But luckily Irish speak English. Very few have preserved the Gaelic tongue.

[CharlesScene]

Lmfaooo, sweet, this is gonna be kind of easy

[Jaximus-Lion]

Just a quick FYI here! It's only Americans who calls it (the greatest country) and few others from the reat of the world while they watch an American movie or a tv show and of course! Those who wants weed to be legal. I have been to the states and another 20 or more other countries. Every country has their pros and cons, there is very good countries near me, like Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Germany that i could move to. I moved from Iraq to Sweden, many of these countries ate similar to Sweden, not that much change when it comes to live in. I travel there, i worked in Norway and Germany, not that big difference in my opinion. The pros and cons of Sweden vs USA? Am sticking with Sweden. You have a wonderful country, very nice people, Vegas was amazing but not enough to leave Sweden. I might leave to Switzerland in the future, we will see

[AmandaYVR]

I don't have the brain power for this right now.
But watch this video. It's iconic now.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/4fTkA3dvpPM

[t-8900]

haha i remember this one well XD

[bodiesands]

Love this

[t-8900]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0lrMrKa60

[t-8900]

I dont actually think it will happen that china takes power over us, ofc. That's just hyperbole. I just think the message is true. We've turned our back on our founding principles and I think we are going to fall because of that in the end. Not so much economically as socially first I think. Our social order is turning chaotic.

[bodiesands]

Yeah... that second one is really dumb.
Especially as:

a) I've never heard of China 'owning' all, or any, US debt

b) China has very high spending and debt of its own, probably higher

c) This is just more tiresome fear-mongering against government spending - which is actually very useful in many ways.

E. g. Denmark is the happiest country in the world (officially, 2016), yet has one of the highest top rate taxes (~70%). Good hospitals, schools, swimming pools, roads, bike lanes, prison systems etc all require the economies of scale, efficiency, and lack of corruption only central planning and funding can provide.

Stories of people running away from ambulances in the US because they can't afford them blow our minds in the UK - but the UK is not perfect either, after 40 years of neoliberalism (i. e. freemarket, spending cuts, and deregulation on principle, all culminating in the self-sabotaging stupidity of Brexit).

[bodiesands]

The countries with the least trust in government, end up with the worst results. This is not to say that government should always be trusted - just that if it is perpetually distrusted, you end up with the worst possible politicians in charge (because you assume 'they're all corrupt anyway, so why not go for the ones who are honest about their corruption, and funny at the same time?').

Trust is a difficult thing to argue for, but in this age of feverish paranoia on both sides, seems the only sane option. And I do remember seeing some research showing its link to economic development. I. e. the countries with the highest levels of trust, are also the richest per capita. Because every relationship - personal, business, and political, goes better with trust, and is crippled without it.

Funnily enough, I believe that to be at least part of the Christian message - turn the other cheek, forgive, keep trying and trusting - because both one's life and one's society works better when one does. So it's baffling to me to see the US - surely the most Christian place on the planet? - so loudly and melodramatically seem to lose sight of this lesson.

[t-8900]

@bodiesands www.thebalance.com/u-s-debt-to-china-how-much-does-it-own-3306355

americanmilitarynews.com/.../
www.cnbc.com/.../...n-residential-real-estate.html
finance.yahoo.com/.../...anies-fast-170529725.html

[t-8900]

@bodiesands turn the other cheek for what exactly? Not at the expense of their survival. else there would have been no New Testament because the tribes of Israel would not have survived their foes. There's a time and place to "turn the other cheek" and it's in times of humility, not survival.

We are not the "most religious". We have people who scream they are the loudest, but do not practice what they preach. They might attend a Sunday sermon but as soon as that's over they go out and party, have sex, do drugs, bash others, etc, etc. Also I fail to see how it's not considered reasonable to not trust gov given that the gov is a shady and morally evil entity that has spread suffering, death, and pillaging the world over. And plus in the USA marriages have like a 50% failure rate. Thats like 50% of people breaking their word. No thanks, I'll keep my trust to those who earn it.

[bodiesands]

Yes on the religious hypocrisy. Though corruption is everywhere, and many third world countries seem even worse, it does seem odd that a country so vocally religious as the US seems more corrupt than say some European countries, who don't shout about their religion (and therefore implicitly their goodness).

No on the government thing. 'Government' is also who collects your bins, maintains your roads, runs your schools, and in more civilised countries runs your medical services. What people have an issue with is again *corruption* - which is really to say *sin* - not government itself. People can do bad things. But people can also do good things. To disbelieve in government - which is just a collection of people - because sometimes people do bad things seems silly. It would be like not ever getting married, because sometimes spouses murder each other. Technically logical, but an overreaction.

Yes on the marriage thing. I do wonder whether much of the point of religion was just to keep people together. Being trapped in a toxic relationship is awful, but being alone is awful too. And when men or women end up back in the dating game in middle age, it ain't pretty. I think part of the point of religion was the societal stigma of divorce, but part of it was just straight-up forgiveness, and ability to work through differences and problems without condemning the other person entirely. As we've seen with 'identity politics' on both sides, condemning the person entirely is the easiest and least helpful way to manage any relationship or discussion - hence the poison and paralysis of current politics.

[CrazyGirl2]

It’s not the position we are in the world that counts its the promise of America… that if you work hard and sacrifice, then your children will have a better life than you did, and for 250 years almost that promise was true! This is the first generation where it may not be true! If that comes to fruition the the American dream is over!

[TrueConfection]

Chemicals in our food, chemicals in our household and beauty products, over medicating with more chemicals... I think that about sums it up.

[t-8900]

would you say that mass consumerism or robotic work environments affect people's mental health too?

[TrueConfection]

Yes, but not necessarily in a negative way.

[purplepoppy]

Isn't that the whole problem? You bang on about being the greatest and how anyone can be rich and successful with a a bit of effort. Then people ask how come I work my bollocks off every day yet my lifes still shit?

[t-8900]

I've always been pretty Eurocentric myself simply because I was raised by europeans lol. But yes it always did kind of annoy me about the "we're the best" mentality. Its only certain parts of the population that gobbled that shit up though.

[bean2k21]

In actuality the word 'depression' is one used by us wealthier countries to describe feeling sad. These feelings can occur if you lose a percentage point in the stock market or if you have to temporarily stop paying your sugar baby in order to finance a new business. In other countries, being a sack of worthless shit is just called life.

[VanillaSalt]

This woman’s response is why we have depression. Drop her in the jungle or leave her in a third worth country and see if she still thinks life’s hard here.

[ManOnFire]

There are many reasons:
- excessive stimulation from social media
- poor sense of building relationships
- excessive sugar in our diets
- poor diets overall
- toxic workplaces and toxic managers/management
- too much hooking up
- not enough love in family households
- shallow friendships and connections
- too much freedom and the bad choices that come with it
- toxic school environments
- no sense of direction in life or in goals, which makes people think they need to "find themselves."

[AviatorTom]

This is another example of people playing with statistics. If you consider all the countries of the world,, and look carefully at the world map (in the attached link) it's the Western ones (US included) who have the highest depression rates. That's because those countries detect depression in people and provide support for them. If you detect depression more, of course, you're going to end up near the top of the chart.

And look, in particular, at the numbers at the bottom of the map. Is there really that much difference between 5% and 6.5%, which includes most of the world?

by the way, most every person believes that their country is the best, wherever they live.

[Wester1967]

The greatest country is ruling class propaganda. Only idiots and oafs sign off on that sh*t. As BGS explains on youtube, in capitalism, 90% of the population has to be sacrificed so that 10% can live in comfort and luxury. That 10% is gonna hire all the stupid cops and brain dead soldiers on the planet to kill you if you disagree with the equation and those cops and soldiers will burn their lives away for a mess of BS because Rush Limbaugh or Hannity or Fucked up Carlson on Fixed News tells them too. You'll need 80% of those 90% to pull off a revolution and good luck to you.

"let us call out to one another in the darkness." - Pierre Joseph Proudhoun

[Uptowngirl88]

The US is doing everything wrong. Here's why:

In Sweden students get paid to go to school it's seen as a fulltime job where as America they put you in student loan debt.

In Sweden New moms/dads get a paid year off of work to care for their child.

Sweden health care is government funded and universal for all its citizens.

US designed system is the rich get richer , the poor get poorer. The working class gets taxed hard while loop holes are made for the rich to escape taxes. Which I get because if you're creating jobs you are essentially helping out the economy but working class shouldn't be taxed as much as they are..

US democratic party focuses on problems with other countries mean while US is in trillions of dollars in debt

[Uptowngirl88]

Our criminal justice system is 💩

[t-8900]

Ireland has a similar model and I'm sure a few other Euro nations do too. That is why we are not the greatest. Because we put our profits before our people EVERY TIME.

[AmandaYVR]

This is a great article summarizing the educational system and life in general in Sweden.
Just fyi.
Also, have you ever heard the term 'the tallest tree is cut down'? It's a metaphor for certain cultures, like Scandinavia, where individuals who try to push through and be more successful, attain more, achieve more, are derided/criticized by others. They don't like that mentality there.
There is a price to pay, several of them, for that type of society, for those advantages, and one of them is freedom of individuality. It's quite the antithesis of America.

[AmandaYVR]

www.theatlantic.com/.../

[t-8900]

@AmandaYVR after reading it I think if you are a Swedish Student, do your studies from home, and dont go out partying then you can make out like a bandit. What's more you can jump ship for a life overseas and do even better yet!

[AmandaYVR]

Smart!
Wasn't this an interesting theory?
"Nobody's exactly sure why this is. One of the more fascinating theories is that the differences in the strength of family ties in northern and southern Europe is a faint echo of invasions by the Roman Empire and Islamic caliphates in the Mediterranean region versus the Germanic-Nordic dominance in regions further north."

[t-8900]

@AmandaYVR yep its a cultural thing. I'm Italian and we are VERY close to our relatives and you feel stronger for it in many ways. However in the states it comes off cold. The culture is just... different. I was born and raised in the states but I was by Italian Immigrants. it still feels alien that people dont keep in close contact with each other anymore. And granted my own family has fallen apart because of American culture. Its one of the many things I hate about this country. The emphasis being always and only about one's self and no one else. To me its very toxic and a breeding ground for disloyalty.

[jennifer_bloom]

It could be various reasons - maybe the exhaustion of doing manual labour or the single parent families where abuses happen and kids get neglected. I read 1 in 4 Americans are raised by an alcoholic family member or relative. It’s just the media makes people believe everybody looks like Paris Hilton and drives Ferraris to school - only a tiny fraction live like that.

[Oigit]

There are a lot of reasons why. It's something that you very much have to break down on a individual bases. It is also one of those questions where the honest answers you get will floor you. It's a very complex issue. Also we love putting labels on ourselves as a country. Calling us the Greatest country in the world is a good way to get people to not acknowledge that we are far from it.

[Texaskid1]

We have forgotten the value of community ; of family and friends - we have become a culture that emphasises material possesions and keeping up with the Joneses above all else. We forget the material, while important in it's own right, is temporary. When you die you can't take your bank account, your car, your brand name clothes etc with you.

We are a culture that is obsessed with work. Americans work longer hours and have less vacation than anyother industrailized country on Earth save Japan.

This has led to a people that are overworked, obssed with the latest gadget or brand name shoe and consequently laden with debt. There are other reasons but I am tired right now.

My 2 cents.

[sunshineglow]

Because obsession with the materialistic can't satisfy the soul.

[Brokenheartedx]

I can assure you america is not the greatest country in the world. Its a mess of division and hatrid stemmed by thug rule that you are pestering out to the rest of the world.

[t-8900]

as an American one of things I always really hated about our nation is it's very long nose when it comes to world politics

[MJtheCoach]

I don’t believe that US is the second most depressing country in the world because America city to city state to state your experience changes dramatically I remember I was extremely depressed and alone I had no friends my job everything sucked when I was in Canada as soon as I moved to US I start making friends my mood went up I start losing weight food tasted better and I felt phenomenal!


One thing about US I have to mention is no matter what they do everything on the table and is the only country in the world where is open and excepting to criticisms.

[Floppy2112]

Well, we're moving swiftly into an authoritarian state. We have the most material wealth in the world, but money cannot buy you love. People don't love each other anymore, people hate each other, on large scales. Hate brings misery, the conclusion is inevitable.

[VanillaSalt]

Because without struggle we get depressed. We need the struggle to live to be part of life to not be depressed

[t-8900]

correct that is true. It's one of many factors but it's led to a lot of misery, stagnation, infidelity, etc.

[hahahmm]

Because unlike most countries, there's lots of people in the U. S. with the mission of creating confusion and lack of certainty about whether it's worth being a united nation or not. You have entitled people thinking that they're a victim of 50 different things and that they have no control over their own lives.

[MotorcycleMan]

We think we're the greatest country in the World because that's what we've been told, but then, so have most people from most other countries.
What exactly do you think makes America the greatest country in the World? We don't really rank in the top of much on a global scale.

[888theGreat]

This happens when liberals control government. Layoffs from putting businesses out of business. Product shortages. Higher taxes for everyone. No coal, or drilling of new oil, and pipelines shut down. Printing money and causing runaway inflation. Encouraging riots.

[t-8900]

I honestly think we've gone so far down a rabbit hole that we aren't even scratching the surface. I dont even know how things will get turned around... IF they can

[888theGreat]

It is all over but all the bankruptcies

[sage2021]

finally someone said what I was thinking! Your answer is the best and most truthful!

[sage2021]

To t- 8900 from Sage2021

[t-8900]

Yes but mental health has been on th decline for years. I certainly think they played a hand but a lot of it also imho has to do with a terrible work/life balance and horrible eating habits