Holiday Depression: States Where It Hits the Hardest

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for many people, it can also bring feelings of loneliness, stress, and sadness. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the "holiday blues" or holiday depression, is increasingly being recognized as a widespread mental health issue.

According to a recent poll by the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 89% of U.S. adults report feeling overwhelmed during the holidays. Factors such as financial pressures, unrealistic expectations, strained family relationships, or the absence of loved ones can intensify negative emotions during the festive period. The shorter days of winter and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may further exacerbate these feelings. 

To understand the extent of this issue, Academized conducted an in-depth analysis of search trends and keywords related to holiday depression using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Google Trends.

What We Found: Insights Into Holiday Depression Searches

Our research revealed some key patterns in how Americans search for information about holiday depression. Here are the highlights:

• Top States Googling Holiday Depression:
  The states where people are most likely to search for terms related to holiday depression are:
  • Mississippi
  • Nebraska
  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky
  • Arizona
  
• When Searches Peak:
  In 2023, the highest number of searches occurred during the week of December 17–23, a time when the holiday season is in full swing.
  
• Search Volume Predictions:
  With search interest rising each year, our analysis predicts that by December 2024, the volume of searches related to holiday depression will peak at approximately 10,000 queries per month.
  

What These Trends Mean

These findings underscore the growing awareness and concern surrounding holiday-related mental health challenges. They also highlight the importance of providing accessible resources and support during this critical time of year. For businesses, mental health professionals, and organizations, understanding these trends can help shape better outreach and support initiatives to address holiday blues effectively.

Whether it's reaching out to a friend, seeking professional help, or accessing self-care resources, recognizing and addressing holiday depression is a step toward a happier, healthier festive season for everyone.

Sources:

1. https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US&q=holiday%20depression&hl=en
2. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress
3. https://app.ahrefs.com/keywords-explorer/google/us/overview?keyword=holiday%20depression