A new study by addiction recovery company Legacy Healing Center shows Wyoming sitting in a pretty good spot on the list of states most prone for residents to suffer from fall seasonal depression.

Wyoming is the 43rd least likely state for depression as the summer gives way to late sunrises and early sunsets. The study looked at sunlight, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, rainfall and temperatures to reveal the states where depression can hit hard, leading to compromised mental health, according to Ben Fox, spokesperson for the center.

“Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder, often happens because of reduced sunlight and changes in our body’s internal clock. People may feel more tired, sleep poorly, or lose motivation. It’s not just feeling a bit down, it can affect daily life significantly,” Fox said.

The seven states happier than Wyoming during fall are California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Nebraska and Idaho. Wyoming scored a 28.59 total score based on environmental considerations including fall sunshine, daytime fatigue, sleep disturbances, average rainfall and depression prevalence.

West Virginia tops the list, largely due to only averaging 550 hours of fall sunshine (vs. 679 hours for Wyoming) and a sleep disturbance index of 43% (vs. 33% for Wyoming).

Fox said folks don’t have to just sit there and take it as they are typically up before sunrise and watch the light leak away shortly after dinner.

“Even a short walk outside each day can make a difference. Light therapy lamps are effective, and keeping a consistent sleep schedule is key. If the fall blues feel stronger than usual, talking to a professional can prevent things from getting worse,” he said.

The news runs counter to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control showing Wyoming to be the third highest suicide rate per capita. Wyoming suicide rates for the last three years have shown a notable shift. Following a peak in 2021 of 32.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, suicide rates since have declined to between 26.3-28.2 since 2022.

Unfortunately, that still places Wyoming just behind Alaska (28.1 suicides per 100,000 residents) and Montana (26.7 suicides per 100,000 residents). In the most recent CDC stats, Wyoming is reported to have 26.5 suicides per 100,000 residents, just slightly behind Montana, but still down significantly from the 2021 rates.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has initiated and remained actively engaged in statewide prevention efforts, including signing legislation to establish the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, leading the expansion of the governor’s Mental Health Task Force and his WY We Care Initiative. Ongoing strategies include securing sustainable funding for the 988 lifeline, implementing the Wyoming State Suicide Prevention Plan, and supporting innovative community programs such as PROSPER (which works closely with county prevention specialists to partner with Wyoming schools, clinicians, first responders, faith leaders and parents in reducing suicide risk statewide) and Veterans Talking to Veterans.

If you or someone you know is struggling, immediate help is available. Call or text 988 at any time to be connected with a trained Wyoming caregiver. For veterans seeking help, dial 988, then press 1.