Bronx And Brooklyn Are Unhealthiest Counties In State, Manhattan Has Poor Mental Health

Looks like New York City might need a gym membership.

The Bronx and Brooklyn ranked, respectively, 62nd and 58th out New York's 62 counties in a recent study by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute that determines and ranks the nation's counties healthiness. Counties are ranked according to factors such as mortality rate, tobacco use, unsafe sex, diet, exercise and access to health care, NBC New york reports.

Manhattan, although ranking a decent 25th, doesn't seem to think it's in very good shape. From the New York Post:

Despite having low premature-death rates -- in the bottom 10 percent in the nation -- Manhattan residents overwhelmingly reported being in poor mental and physical health. In one quality-of-life indicator, a hefty 19 percent of Manhattan residents reported being in poor or fair health. That's almost twice the national average of 10 percent.

So while they may live longer, it turns out Manhattanites are just a little more depressed. New York Magazine reports that Manhattan residents report feeling 3.4 days of poor feelings, as opposed to the national average of just 2.3 days per month.

Queens county came in at 20th in the overall rankings and Staten Island (Richmond County) finished at 28th. (See all the rankings here).

The nationwide study found that the lowest ranking counties in the nation had some things in common. According to Time.com these counties had:

• significantly lower high school graduation rates • more than twice as many children living below the poverty line • fewer grocery stores and farmer's markets (which means more reliance on high-fat, high-calorie convenience food) • high rates of unemployment

Some New York City officials see these factors in their neighborhoods and are not surprised. "Poor communities in central Brooklyn have historically poor health indicators because those indicators are socially related and arise from poverty and inequality," Yvonne Graham, deputy Brooklyn borough president, told NBC News. "Additionally, health disparities have been compounded by an influx of over half a million immigrants."

The study's website also highlights the efforts of the local government in high-ranking Wynadotte County, Kansas where community officials launched a Healthy Communities Initiative.

Comments

[bvbklyn]

07:36 AM on 04/04/2011

You clearly don't know much about NYC. Diverse, dense, options of all kinds, smart saavy,
adaptble, curious, ambitious, talented people. Now that I am living upstate, where the threat of outsiders maintains a dumb down local arrogance, the drive of NYers to do is real clear. You would think that farmers markets would thrive but these folks prefer Sam's Club, and fast food.
The good stuff is seen as elistist.

[Goliadkin]

07:05 PM on 04/03/2011

New York City is really dark in the winter, and many folks' work schedules prevent them from full exposure to what sunlight there is. People don't realize how much bright sunlight they need for full aliveness, alertness, and vitality. Without it, your melatonin cycle gets all whacked out, and you feel really draggy. Once I started artificial light supplementation, life in NYC became much easier and more enjoyable. Check out the Litebook--it's a great tool for light supplementation. No, I'm not selling them and have no affiliation. Just a grateful user.

[1jurisdiva]

01:49 AM on 04/03/2011

HP - I can done write Inglish good...make me article righter.

[NYC80]

03:59 PM on 04/02/2011

Paying 5K on monthly rent many anyone depressed in Manhattan.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/31/bronx-and-brooklyn-are-un_n_843098.html#

[valentina 2]

02:52 PM on 04/02/2011

Manhattanites are neurotic? No?!!

I wouldn't trade living in this city for anywhere else.

[happycat]

07:44 PM on 04/02/2011

Same here.

[wolfiegirl]

12:36 PM on 04/03/2011

As someone born and raised in NYC myself, this map does not tell the whole story. There are so many different neighborhoods and socioeconomic levels in Manhattan, or in fact all the boroughs. Would anyone compare Bay Ridge or Park Slope to Bed Stuy? My sister in law is on the Upper East Side, as well as a bunch of friends. My kids love the activity. They would cry when I wheeled them in strollers around our subdivision in Georgia, but love every minute in the stroller in Manhattan, or Queens or Brooklyn.

[Elroy Smith]

02:42 PM on 04/02/2011

Go Queens! Healthiest Boro in da City!

[wolfiegirl]

12:37 PM on 04/03/2011

Go Queens!!! Except the Mets.....

[happycat]

01:05 PM on 04/03/2011

Not according to Old Happycat, the Mets fan!

[Venicelady]

12:52 PM on 04/02/2011

Wonderful!

I work in da Bronx, live in Brooklyn.

I'm doomed!!!!!!

[wolfiegirl]

12:37 PM on 04/03/2011

Nah, but you have an awful subway ride, don't you?

[Venicelady]

12:51 PM on 04/03/2011

Actually, I drive - two hours each way, depending on traffic. The BQE is the worst, IMO.

When I have taken the subway, same thing. Yep, it's a hike.

But, I LOVE Brooklyn, wouldn't think of living anywhere else, in spite of all of this gloom and doom about it.

BTW- On my daily trip, I pass a sign that I know you'll appreciate that a storage company in Manhattan uses ( by the Brooklyn Bridge entrance): "Why leave the city when we have six sports teams AND the Mets?" Makes me laugh each time I pass it!

Can't resist using that line on my Mets loving friends. Diehard Yankee person myself.

And, thanks for asking about my commute. That was very nice of you.

Have a wonderful weekend! Becoming your 769th fan.

[Gladys1963]

01:07 PM on 04/03/2011

LOL! I live in Brooklyn, too, and work in Manhattan, so I should be fat and depressed!

Fanned and faved, neighbor!

[Venicelady]

01:23 PM on 04/03/2011

Back at ya!

[wolfiegirl]

01:37 PM on 04/03/2011

I used to live in Queens, and work in Brooklyn. I discovered the G train, which no white New Yorker ever dreams of riding. Except me. It was my little secret.

[Aaron Johnson]

11:47 AM on 04/02/2011

I'm thin, funny, imaginative and I love the filth/glam paradigm of New York. It sure beats living in some flyover hillbilly rustbelt, where peeps, under the influence of television intoxication, yodel ad nauseum about religion, sports and right wing politics. On a good day, they may talk about the sub-generic deals to be had at Walmart. Oh the banality!

[B from B]

01:32 PM on 04/02/2011

To each his/her own, but the cities have their fair share of ignorance and close-mindedness as well--it just takes a different form. Either living in a metropolitan area or the country does not itself 'transform' one into one who is either enlightened or unenlightened, but what it can do is provincialize oneself into thinking that where they live and the people that live there are the 'best,' smartest, most enlightened, etc., which ironically are hallmarks of being unenlightened. But again, there is no right or wrong place to live; it's just a matter of personal preference, and people living in one place are neither no better nor no worse than people living in any other place.

[valentina 2]

02:53 PM on 04/02/2011

You said it.

[B from B]

09:52 AM on 04/02/2011

I go to manhattan every once in awhile, and the statistic that manhattenites might be a little more depressed doesn't really surprise me, as when I visit, the color grey is quite dominant (grey street, buildings, sidewalks). Also, it seems that there are an inordinate amount of people that wear black clothing. All of that, together with the expressionless faces that you encounter on most passers-by generally found in any major metropolitan area doesn't help to lift one's spirits.
BTW, just curious--why IS it that there seems that black and dark-colored clothing seems to be worn so much in Manhattan? I'm not being facetious; I truly am curious. Anyone know the answer or would like to hazard a guess?

[Aaron Johnson]

11:28 AM on 04/02/2011

People wear dark clothing because Manhattan is so dirty. Imagine for a moment what light colored clothes would look after a day of wallowing in filth all day long.

[fraught]

11:54 AM on 04/02/2011

You don't know what you're talking about.

[valentina 2]

02:54 PM on 04/02/2011

Black is the unofficial color of Manhattan, period.

[reluctantcougar]

11:59 AM on 04/02/2011

NYC is a pedestrian city and wearing black is practical. Walking throughout the city, riding subways or taxis, sitting on outdoor benches, ever-present construction sites and so forth, you can absorb a lot of dirt and grime. Wearing black camouflages dirt and looks stylish and slimming at the same time.

[Content of Character]

09:25 AM on 04/02/2011

Living in Brooklyn, I wouldn't have guessed we were that big. However, I grew in Texas, home of the deep fried coca cola on a stick http://www.wftv.com/foodnews/9789814/detail.html

Having so many Rasta's around BK inspires me to eat healthier. I love their standards for eating. Fresh fruits, vegetables.....simple.

[Ins Chris]

01:42 PM on 04/02/2011

This is just comparing health to other NY counties. Not other counties in Texas.

I take it you might live in Crown heights? Used to live there, I miss that food. :(

[HeyTheist]

02:54 AM on 04/02/2011

I was born in Queens and raised on the Island, but worked in Manhattan for many years. Honestly, just working in Manhattan was depressing. The people are generally (notice, I said GENERALLY) desensitized to everything and anything that has to do with human suffering and show no empathy towards their fellow humans. I have witnessed (and tried to help in some cases) atrocities some can only imagine, and marveled at the apathy shown by passersby. Manhattanites should be depressed considering the horrors they are surrounded with.

I do everything in my power to avoid travelling to Manhattan, and do not look fondly on the memories of the days when I worked there.

[valentina 2]

02:55 PM on 04/02/2011

I've had the opposite experiences. People generally mind their own business and don't pay attention to you, but if you need help, the help is genuine.

[UnknownSolider]

08:04 AM on 04/03/2011

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[Gladys1963]

01:10 PM on 04/03/2011

That's so true, valentina. I've encountered the same thing in Manhattan.

[Wood]

11:34 PM on 04/01/2011

Um.. i coulda told you guys that..

[AF3IRM]

11:13 PM on 04/01/2011

This article is incomprehensible. Hire some real writers, please.

[Cannae]

11:08 PM on 04/01/2011

Poorly written article..... another one.

[michelesda]

10:07 PM on 04/01/2011

The Bronx is obese, Manhattan is depressed?

New York, New York, it's a helluva town
The Bronx is fat, but the Battery's down...

[Absolute]

07:47 AM on 04/03/2011

LOL, well done!