Porn is definitely the problem

[Korihor]

http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-youth-s ... ages-11-17

Or not.

Is a little modern revelation too much to ask from the guys who talk with god?

[2bizE]

Porn really is such a huge problem in Utah. It has lead to...actually I'm not sure what it leads to. Stronger hands? Less skin cancer from sunburns? Blindness? Probably not.

[PalmSprings]

Utah is woefully understaffed per capita when it comes to mental health counselors and treatment centers.

Definitely agree here!! Bishops and the counselors at LDS family services don't cut it wouldn't you say??

Utah youth are also exposed to higher elevations that scientific studies have recently shown can change brain activity and cause depression.

No, no, no, no NO!! This fake fact infuriates me!! There was 1 study (if I recall correctly) that came to this "conclusion." And it wasn't a very solid conclusion either (inconclusive). But it keeps being repeated as fact and used as a cop out. When the truth is hiding in plain sight for everyone to see. Depression in Utah is a direct cause of how the culture and social sphere operates in that state. In other words the LDS Church.

There is also religious pressure that comes from a dominant faith in the state.

You think?? At leat they admitted that much in the article. However the following diatrabe about the LGBT community leaves the impression that they are the only one's affected by religious pressure. Which is so far off base I don't know where to begin.

[Korihor]

Utah is woefully understaffed per capita when it comes to mental health counselors and treatment centers.

Definitely agree here!! Bishops and the counselors at LDS family services don't cut it wouldn't you say??

My SIL works at the VA in the mental health ward. Mostly for service men/women that suffer PTSD of some sort. The stories she has are crazy. They would be comical if not for the entire situation is so sad. People don't get the help they need.

My BIL (husband of SIL mentioned above) passed away almost 5 years ago. Part of his tragedy was mental health concerns. His death is what inspired her to go back to school after his death and become a nurse in mental health (I don't know the exact medical title).

Bishops and LDS family services counselors don't count. They are either untrained, biased or unqualified. Usually all 3.

[wtfluff]

Is a little modern revelation too much to ask from the guys who talk with god?

As if. Those blind old bats are incapable of even admitting there is a problem, or maybe they just don't care. A few kids killing themselves here or there are just collateral damage to keep the lard's work moving along.

Either way, they have blood on their hands.

Utah youth are also exposed to higher elevations that scientific studies have recently shown can change brain activity and cause depression.

No, no, no, no NO!! This fake fact infuriates me!! There was 1 study (if I recall correctly) that came to this "conclusion." And it wasn't a very solid conclusion either (inconclusive). But it keeps being repeated as fact and used as a cop out. When the truth is hiding in plain sight for everyone to see. Depression in Utah is a direct cause of how the culture and social sphere operates in that state. In other words the LDS Church.

Exactly. Why doesn't the "altitude" in other states cause the same depression?

[Corsair]

Utah youth are also exposed to higher elevations that scientific studies have recently shown can change brain activity and cause depression.

No, no, no, no NO!! This fake fact infuriates me!! There was 1 study (if I recall correctly) that came to this "conclusion." And it wasn't a very solid conclusion either (inconclusive). But it keeps being repeated as fact and used as a cop out. When the truth is hiding in plain sight for everyone to see. Depression in Utah is a direct cause of how the culture and social sphere operates in that state. In other words the LDS Church.

Exactly. Why doesn't the "altitude" in other states cause the same depression?

The 15 Most Suicidal Cities In America does not include anywhere in Utah, but does include Mesa, Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas which all boast a much lower altitude, an LDS population, and an LDS temple. Denver, CO is also on the list of suicidal cities which does have a comparable elevation to the Wasatch Front. Geographic altitude alone is not a clear indicator.

2017’s Happiest Places to Live does include Salt Lake City, UT on the "good list" which is amusing since SLC is a fairly liberal bastion in a conservative state. The list ironically includes Mesa, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and Denver which might maliciously point to the depressed people finding tragically permanent solutions to their depression and removing themselves from subsequent well-being surveys. Provo, Ogden, and Orem are not listed on this list of "Happiest Places to Live".

Teen suicide statistics are higher in western U.S. states, notably in the LDS corridor. I have talked with Mama Dragons about how there is some depressing evidence that many suicides in Utah are listed as accidental rather than suicide. This is because it would be rather embarrassing to have a suicide hanging over the conscience of a devout family rather than accidental overdose.

Depression is complicated and the apologists who cite "altitude" as an instrumental cause of depression in Utah are using these statistics like a drunk uses a lamp post: for support, not illumination.

[2bizE]

So, I'm driving down the Mormon corridor tonight and see a big billboard stating Cosmopolitan magazine is porn. Protect our kids from porn. Only in Utah...

[Thoughtful]

Utah underpays social workers, therapists, behavior analysts, counselors, etc. Dramatically so. That's why there's a shortage. I suspect there is another issue of lay clergy thinking they know what they're doing.

[Give It Time]

I don't like how someone asked Elder Oaks about gay teens committing suicide and he essentially said that it wasn't the church's fault they exercised their agency in that way.

I live within a high suicide area of this high suicide state. I do get wind of some of the reasons why. Not that many, certainly not most, of what I'm hearing isn't about being gay. A lot of it is just plain depression.

I know of a young man who was engaging in reckless behavior, was severely injured and succumbed to his injuries. It could have truly been an accident, but it also looks like it could have been suicide.

I think it is very interesting that this state is home to such a wide range of statistics:

One if the happiest cities
Most prescriptions for anti-depressants
Most internet porn searches
Second largest number per capita of plastic surgeons
High teen suicide rate
Most fertile state (until recently)
Consistently at the bottom of rankings for women's equality
Best outdoor recreation towns

Must be the fry sauce

[Newme]

http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-youth-s ... ages-11-17

That's so sad.
What really sucks is that the problems are ignored or denied and often supported as if they were not problems but good (like dysfunctional cultural/religious teachings), causing needless suffering and death. Church leaders have often put down psych-ology, in favor of scriptures. There are some good scriptures, but some are also distorted incorrect ways of thinking. And psych-ology (study of the soul) is truly part of genuine religion.

If I had to nail down the problem, I'd say it was 2 things:

1) Cognitive distortions - (ie bi-polar/polarized thinking like "I either am awesome or I suck", "I'm either on the Lord's side or not"), which the church tends to teach. Thoughts cause feelings, including suicidal feelings - especially when thoughts become dysfunctionally habitual and affect physiology - endocrine system etc. https://psychcentral.com/lib/challengin ... -outlooks/
2) Lack of healthy parental support - parenting isn't easy, I know! But parents have the greatest influence on kids. Although, there are times when kids are overwhelmed by peer pressure, drugs etc.

[PalmSprings]

.....I live within a high suicide area of this high suicide state. I do get wind of some of the reasons why. Not that many, certainly not most, of what I'm hearing isn't about being gay. A lot of it is just plain depression.....

I think it is very interesting that this state is home to such a wide range of statistics:

One if the happiest cities
Most prescriptions for anti-depressants
Most internet porn searches
Second largest number per capita of plastic surgeons
High teen suicide rate
Most fertile state (until recently)
Consistently at the bottom of rankings for women's equality
Best outdoor recreation towns

Must be the fry sauce

Great post! I've always taken the happiest or best place to live lists with a grain of salt. Maybe in this case it's because of the anti depressants that people feel happy? Or perhaps people responding to these surveys in Utah have drank too much Kool aid when answering the survey.

But agreed, it is just plain depression and sadly no one knows how to deal with the problem. Worse yet people can't even bring themselves to admit there is a problem. In a TBM mindset there is no way people could be unhappy living in the only true kingdom of god.

[Rob4Hope]

So, I'm driving down the Mormon corridor tonight and see a big billboard stating Cosmopolitan magazine is porn. Protect our kids from porn. Only in Utah...

See if every day from the Train. I'm embarrassed to see it there. I had the same thought: "Only in Utah".

[Rob4Hope]

But agreed, it is just plain depression and sadly no one knows how to deal with the problem. Worse yet people can't even bring themselves to admit there is a problem. In a TBM mindset there is no way people could be unhappy living in the only true kingdom of god.

This is as true as it comes. The quote someone gave above about Oaks saying the church can't be responsible for how someone uses their agency?

Pretty chilling.

[Korihor]

So, I'm driving down the Mormon corridor tonight and see a big billboard stating Cosmopolitan magazine is porn. Protect our kids from porn. Only in Utah...

See if every day from the Train. I'm embarrassed to see it there. I had the same thought: "Only in Utah".

Our friends recently returned from a vacation and visiting their family in Utah. Mrs Kori asked her "how was your trip?"
She responded, "the billboards are weird."

We thought that was a peculiar response - who comments on the billboards when asked about their trip? Now we know.