Minnesota shows high rates of depression

Minnesota has one of the nation's highest rates of major depression, according to a new report from Blue Cross Blue Shield of America.

The data examined medical claims from more than 41 million commercially insured Blue Cross Blue Shield members from 2013 to 2016 and compared depression rates among states, age groups and gender. Minnesota ranked near the top with a depression diagnosis rate of 5.8 percent. Hawaii showed the lowest rate, at 2.1 percent.

Women living in Minnesota tied with Maine for having the highest depression diagnosis rate in the country, 8.1 percent.

Minnesota's millennials ranked second-highest behind Utah, with a depression rate of 6.3 percent.

"Differences in the effort to screen for major depression can produce varying diagnosis rates for this condition across states," the report said.

Major depression affects more than 9 million Americans. "Diagnoses of major depression [nationwide] have risen dramatically by 33 percent since 2013," the report said. "This rate is rising even faster among millennials [up 47 percent] and adolescents," up 47 percent for boys and 65 percent for girls.

Minnesota adolescents (ages 12-17) showed a depression rate of 3.9 percent, while the national average for that age group is 2.6 percent. Men in Minnesota were also above their national average of 2.8 percent, with a 3.7 percent depression diagnosis rate.

"It is possible that the increased rates of depression in adolescents are related to a combination of increased electronics use and sleep disruptions in already vulnerable individuals," said Dr. Karyn Horowitz, a psychiatrist at Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island.

"Increased use of electronics, video games more commonly in boys and social media/texting more commonly in girls, can lead to increased conflict both within the home and with peers."

Every state had a rising rate of major depression, except Hawaii, which showed a slight decline.

Rachel Chazin • 612-673-4726