A series of phone surveys done by the CDC over the years has led researchers to believe that you are most likely to suffer bouts of depression and emotional distress if you live in the Appalachian or Mississippi Valley regions. Kentucky had the highest level of mental distress of any state while Hawaii had the lowest. Researchers don’t have a lot of answers when it comes to figuring out the factors behind the geography of depression (or whether Kentucky residents are just more likely to be forthcoming about their feelings when called by the CDC).
Here are some facts about Kentucky from Wikipedia.
It is … home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States, and the nation’s most productive coalfield. Kentucky is also known for thoroughbred horses, horse racing, bourbon distilleries, bluegrass music, automobile manufacturing, tobacco, and college basketball.
I’m guessing if you swapped out tobacco and coalfields for pineapple and beaches and you’d be onto something.
