Data Guides: Mental and Emotional Health

About

  • Data from Disability & Health Data System (DHDS) come from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
  • The BRFSS is a telephone interview with questions on a variety of health risks and behaviors, chronic conditions, and demographics.
  • Below are the specific questions and response categories about mental and emotional health.
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Ever had depression

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) respondents were asked, "Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you that you have a depressive disorder (including depression, major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression)?" Responses were grouped into two categories: Yes and No.

Ever had depression data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Related indicators:

  • Mentally unhealthy days in past 30 days

Mentally unhealthy days in past 30 days

BRFSS respondents were asked, "Now thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?" Responses were grouped into three categories: None, 1–13 Days, and 14+ Days.

Mentally unhealthy days in past 30 days data available: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Related Indicators:

  • Physically unhealthy days in past 30 days
  • Ever had depression

Defined based on:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health-related quality of life surveillance—United States, 1993–2002. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2005;54(No. SS-4):2–3, 14.