Mental Health

Across San Juan County, in 2019, 39.2% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year (for every day for two or more weeks): 49.6% of girls and 29.1% of boys. Overall, this is statistically similar to New Mexico (41%) and the U.S. (37%).

A question on the CDC telephone survey with adults (the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, or BRFSS) asks, "Now thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?" In general, counties where residents experience a higher number of unhealthy days are likely to have higher unemployment, poverty, and prevalence of disability than counties with fewer unhealthy days.

14 days or more days of poor mental health per month is defined by the CDC to be "frequent mental distress," tending to suggest persistent mental health issues that impact quality of life. Rates are higher for women than men.

In San Juan County, in 2020, 14.7% reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past month, which decreased from 2019 (when it was 18.9%), but overall, has been unchanged from previous years. San Juan County is statistically similar to New Mexico (13.5%) and the U.S. (13.2%). The 2020 Health People goal was to reduce this number to 10% or less.

In addition to asking about mental health in the past month, the BRFSS survey also asks respondents to indicate whether they are experiencing a "doctor diagnosed depression." Women are more likely than men, and Whites are more likely than other races/ethnicities to be diagnosed with depression by a doctor or other healthcare provider.