A study by mental health experts at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling examined 22 mental health disorders and explored the most frequent questions searched on Google trends in the past year. The findings revealed that mental health concerns vary significantly across the U.S.
The research team input 22 mental health disorders into Google Trends and analyzed the search volume over the past year to determine the most searched mental health problems in each state. The mental health disorders that were analyzed included:
- Addiction to porn
- Alcoholism addiction
- Alzheimer's
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Drug addiction
- Hyperactivity and ADHD
- Internet / Social Media Addiction
- Intimacy Issues
- Loneliness
- Loss of Appetite
- Low libido
- Narcissism
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Paranoid
- Phobias
- PTSD
- Schizophrenia
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Stress
Related: The States That Care Most About Adolescent Mental Health
Mental Health Questions Revealed
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is the most Googled mental health concern in the US, at least by the number of states. It's the top search in six states, including Alabama, Louisiana and West Virginia. The most popular questions about ADHD were "Do I have ADHD?" and "Why is it so hard for me to focus?"
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, and it turns out to be so in at least five states, including New York and Pennsylvania. Residents of these states are asking Google, "Why do I feel overwhelmed all the time?" and "What can I do to feel less anxious?" more than any other type of question related to anxiety. While there's no easy answer, it's clear that seeking help and understanding the underlying causes of anxiety can be crucial steps toward feeling better.'
While the pandemic led to a surge in handwashing, some people with OCD were already engaging in excessive hygiene rituals. It's a challenge faced by at least four states, including California and Illinois. Residents from these states are actively searching Google for more information about this condition. The most common question is "Why do I keep doing the same things over and over again?"
Residents of four states, such as Oklahoma and Tennessee, are dealing with stress and they want some answers. While some residents of these states are stressed at work and want to know what they should do, others are stressing about finances.
Coloradans, Minnesotans, and Missourians are all seeking information about memory loss. They're concerned about signs that they or someone they love is forgetting things, possibly due to Alzheimer's, and are asking questions such as "Do I have Alzheimer's?" and "Why am I struggling to recall recent events?"
Depression is another mental health concern that has come out on top in three states, including Texas. Whether they're searching for personal reasons or for a loved one, residents are concerned about prolonged sad moods, anxiety, irritability, loss of appetite and the difficulties with concentration that typically accompany depression. Additionally, many residents of these states are worried about postpartum depression.
Hawaiians and Nevadans are seeking information about alcoholism and how to best overcome addictions. Meanwhile, Floridians and Alaskans are struggling with various phobias, such as fear of bugs, heights, tight spaces or flying. Loss of appetite, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, narcissism, and PTSD were other mental health concerns that emerged as top searches in at least two states each.
In a time when warnings about the dangers of social media are coming from from all angles, South Dakotans are taking it pretty seriously. They're searching for information about social media addiction and want to know if screens are really messing with their brains. Wisconsinians struggling with intimacy issues are turning to the internet for help understanding why they don't want to get too close to anyone romantically or otherwise.
