Explore the Data

Reported Poor Mental Health and Depression by Race/Ethnicity

American Indian/Alaska Native residents and residents identifying as being two or more races are disproportionately diagnosed with depression

Mental health is a key component of an individual’s overall well-being. Nationally, 21% of adults aged 18 or older experienced mental illness in 2020, while 6% of adults experienced a serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, and severe depressive disorder).¹

Overall, 11.4% of Lancaster County residents reported poor mental health (including stress, depression, and problems with emotions) on 14 or more of the previous 30 days (as a five-year average of survey results).

• 8.5% of those who identified as Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
• 9.0% of those who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
• 10.9% of those who identified as White reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
• 10.9% of those who identified as Latino/a or Hispanic reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
• 13.3% of those who identified as Black or African American reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
• 18.4% of those who identified as being of Two or More Races reported 14 or more poor mental health days in the past 30 days.

An estimated 18.9% of adults in Lancaster County report being ever having been told by a health professional that they have a depressive disorder.

• Rates of those who identified as Black or African American, and those who identified as White, did not differ substantially from the overall county-wide rate.
  • 18.9% of those who identified as Black or African American reported having ever been told by a health professional they had a depressive disorder.
  • 19.6% of those who identified as White reported having ever been told by a health professional they had a depressive disorder.
• 4.1% of those who identified as Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander reported having ever been told by a health professional they had a depressive disorder.
  • This is 14.8 percentage points lower than the county-wide rate.
• 13.7% of those who identified as Latino/a or Hispanic reported having ever been told by a health professional they had a depressive disorder.
  • This is 4.6 percentage points lower than the county-wide rate.
• 23.0% of those who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native reported having ever been told by a health professional they had a depressive disorder.
  • This is 4.1 percentage points higher than the county-wide rate.
• 28.2% of those who identified as being of Two of More Races reported having ever been told by a health professional they had a depressive disorder.
  • This is 9.3 percentage points higher than the county-wide rate.

Notes

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Nebraska DHHS.

Percentage of adults 18 and older who report that they have ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that they have a depressive disorder (depression, major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression).

Footnote

1. National Institute of Mental Health. (2022, January). Mental illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness