It all makes sense now…

[u/Accomplished_Web8122]

[u/Hank_Shaws]

While this is intriguing data, it does not take into account that conservatives are less likely to report mental illness symptoms or seek medical help for said symptoms. It could be easily explained as "Liberals seek assistance for mental health conditions more than conservatives do" and the data would still look like this.

That seems common sense to me, to be frank. And its quite a stretch to assume that an ideological perspective could somehow alter brain chemistry. Given there is no peer reviewed evidence to suggest that is even possible.

[u/Knowingishalfbattle → u/Hank_Shaws]

The only way to get insurance to pay for any sort of therapy is if there is a diagnosis.

This backs your assertion- as getting help for anything large or small - the therapist will give a diagnosis to help with insurance paperwork

[u/TrustAugustus → u/Hank_Shaws]

Correlation not causation, I gotcha. There is also the positive stigma with any illness in the liberal community as it puts one in the protected class hierarchy that they do covet.

[u/Stellar3227 → u/TrustAugustus]

This is the sort of critical thinking I appreciate in non-hive mind subreddits like these.

While my political opinions lean left, the only thing I'm committed to is well thought out, evidence-based policies. Unfortunately, any discussion that questions the reddit hive mind is shut down. What we need is open dialogue with different opinions challenging each other.

So, please keep it up - regardless of your political stance 😁

[u/TrustAugustus → u/Stellar3227]

Yep. The data is just that. We have to work at interpreting it. It takes a little effort to look beyond what appears at first glance.

White liberal women would likely be found in liberal states or cities. Those places would likely have more readily accessible mental healthcare providers (more prevalent in higher urban areas) making the diagnosis easier to get.

Personally I think it's multifactored. What you mentioned, the desire to be diagnosed (including self -diagnosis) with any "illness" that puts you in the victomhood hierarchy, and location, job preference(insurance, mandatory health checkup etc)

We've trained ourselves to be afraid of any dialogue that gets "downvoted" be it from thumbs down or the vociferous responses of disagreeing others. The current internet is to be at least partially blamed. Then we used message board most people would give thoughtful replies outside of trolling as it required more effort to sit at a computer, load a webpage and form a reply.

Anyway I wish you a happy new year!

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/TrustAugustus]

While I think its a good idea to explore the possible causes of the data, considering its statistical significance, I would continue to caution against jumping to conclusions without evidence. Could you please explain what you mean by using mental illness to gain access to a class hierarchy? I would argue, quite successfully, that no matter what political ideology you subscribe to living with mental illness will put you at a disadvantage. Especially considering they only occupy at best half the nation.

You are also still falling victim to this idea that political ideology can change brain chemistry, which Ill repeat has no evidence that provides causation.

[u/TrustAugustus → u/Hank_Shaws]

Sure. I mean I've run into liberal people claiming ADHD, bi polar, anxiety disorder etc who then use it as an explanation for any part of their behavior. Primally often self diagnosed.

This has happened in the past." The Rise and Fall of Neurasthenia in Japanese Psychiatry" for instance. People claiming a fictional disorder to explain whatever they felt was wrong with them.

[u/Lynke524 → u/TrustAugustus]

Autism is another one they like to claim. They usually claim this one when they have bad behavior they're called out on, like giving autism is a way to act bad and get away with it. That hurts people who are actually autistic.

[u/OkSignificance9774 → u/Hank_Shaws]

Maybe it isn’t just brain chemistry…

The left has appealed to identity politics and has found an identity in anything and everything. Many on the left identify with their own mental health problems, self diagnose, look up symptoms and experience those symptoms, then go to a doctor.

Placebos are real, and identifying with mental health issues is a real epidemic.

[u/newyerker → u/Hank_Shaws]

And whered u get the data that claims conservs report less mental illness? I am very interested to know. 

[u/Available_Farmer5293 → u/newyerker]

As whole they are more skeptical of the medical system.

[u/newyerker → u/Available_Farmer5293]

Right, thus im calling op out pulling crap out of his rearend. 

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/newyerker]

This was incredibly easy to find:

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/new-study-shows-bipartisan-struggles-with-depression-reveals-gaps-in-mental-health-care-access

"According to the study, there is, however, a striking divide on whether people seek mental health treatment, with Republicans less likely to have accessed care despite reporting similar rates of depression compared to Democrats and Independents."

[u/dewnmoutain → u/Hank_Shaws]

Im pretty sure that j20 will provide plenty of data

[u/Klonoadice → u/Hank_Shaws]

It means todays liberalism appeals to weaker minded people. It doesn't create them.

[u/gonets34 → u/Hank_Shaws]

I don't think anyone is asserting that their ideological perspective alters brain chemistry. In fact, I think it's the opposite: that their altered brain chemistry impacts their perception of the world. It's why we have issues that conservatives see as objective common sense yet liberals will vehemently disagree.

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/gonets34]

I could just as easily make the argument that conservative ideology is hostile to people who are different, or in general outside of the norm. That alone could explain why people who have mental illness gravitate towards liberalism. While I am not convinced that is the case, it certainly carries the same weight.

[u/muxman → u/Hank_Shaws]

It could be easily explained as "Liberals seek assistance for mental health conditions more than conservatives do"

Or it could also be looked at as Liberals seek attention, as in "look at me, I'm such a victim" attention, for mental health conditions more than conservatives do. Not for treatment to become healthier but for social status as "the more you're a victim the better" is how liberalism views victim hood and they would view mental illness as being a victim and seek treatment for that reason alone, for the "look at me, pity me, treat me different" factor. Giving them that special status that makes them more important than you, a liberal jackpot.

That seems common sense to me, to be frank. And its quite a stretch to assume that an ideological perspective could somehow alter brain chemistry.

It's not that an ideological perspective could somehow alter brain chemistry, it's the altered brain chemistry that gravitates toward that ideological perspective. As in, the more mentally ill you are the more liberalism is appealing.

And if you look at it through that lens, the more mentally ill you are the more liberalism is appealing, then the more liberalism makes sense.

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/muxman]

I am sorry to say but Im just not following. You seem capable of articulating ideas well enough, so I appreciate the attempt at extrapolating a theory. But it seems like youre making a lot of assumptions about liberalism based on a narrow scope of understanding. And I can say with some confidence that while it does appear you are trying, there just isnt any evidence for what you are suggesting.

For instance, conversely we are aware that Republican states utilize federal assistance at a greater rate than Democrat states. Should we assume that conservatives want to embrace being a victim in order to receive assistance? I suspect you would not agree with that. And if you cannot reconcile those two perspectives, then one can assume youre a victim of bias.

But be careful, we know how slippery a slope being a victim can be ;)

[u/muxman → u/Hank_Shaws]

I'm sure you follow just fine. You're goal is to deny what I've said through condescension and insult rather than a cogent argument.

we are aware that Republican states utilize federal assistance at a greater rate than Democrat states. Should we assume that conservatives want to embrace being a victim in order to receive assistance?

Or that Republican try to care and provide for those who need it on a greater scale so they utilize available resources on a greater scale. Rather than what liberals actually do in comparison to their constant claims of care for others. That's why in demoncrat states, instead of that greater use of resources to help people better their circumstances, you see homelessness and drug use run rampant along with theft on scales so high businesses are collapsing and fleeing along with citizens fleeing in quantity for red states, for better governance and conditions in which to live.

[u/California_King_77 → u/Hank_Shaws]

Who told you that conservatives are less likely to report mental health issues?

There are dozens, if not hundreds of articles and studies out there, which link being liberal with having high levels of anxiety

[u/Iamninja28 → u/Hank_Shaws]

Could also be explained by the left's victim culture, they constantly go to therapy and demand to be diagnosed with something to achieve some social credit beyond simply "being woman" and thus something like social anxiety or basic depression are both qualifiers of mental illness and extremely easy to be diagnosed with. Thus making them even more victimized in the "oppressive society" that they've constructed in their own minds about the world around them.

Having spent my entire life in a blue area it's becoming more and more apparent that they see negatives as positives and positives as negatives. Worse than that they also use immutable characteristics to draw judgement about you. It's blatant bigotry and racism of the worst varieties but they justify it under the guises of "equity" and "tolerance" while actually seeking neither.

They're so deep down the rabbit holes of their own ideologies that I personally don't blame any rational psychiatrist for looking at them and checking some diagnostic boxes on their charts.

[u/Fit_Cockroach_1990]

Lol we didnt need research or a report to know that this is true

[u/I_am_What_Remains → u/Fit_Cockroach_1990]

But it makes it all the sweeter

[u/MAHwhat → u/Fit_Cockroach_1990]

Other countries would be worried about the wellbeing of their fellow citizens and see this as a structural problem that should be solved. You guys seem to hate each other and hence hating the very nation you claim is so good.

[u/NohoTwoPointOh → u/MAHwhat]

We all agree that it is a structural problem that must be solved. But whenever we go after the sources (the mainstream media's contribution, for example), we're met with a "Noooooooooooo!!! Not that kind of solving!!"

[u/MAHwhat → u/NohoTwoPointOh]

Well, the niche media ain’t doing you any favors. And the politicians sure are fucking your over too. I think the main issue really is the money in politics. Politicians acting on behalf of a few large donors. The main stream media thing is just to avoid people from finding out, and if they do, just claim that the media is lying. It’s not the politicians, that out all the corruption. It has always been the media. Like it or not.

[u/fearless-swiftie71]

While this does make a lot of sense, I’m a young, Asian/white/mixed woman with ADHD and I’m a raging Republican so…

[u/Zeroshame15 → u/fearless-swiftie71]

Adhd and autism here

https://preview.redd.it/vktx3m9osc9e1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c3441e58f90a80e4d88a673c684c136afab44bc

[u/reamo05 → u/Zeroshame15]

Anxiety and autism here.

[u/Alicatzpajamas → u/fearless-swiftie71]

ADHD is a neurological condition, not a mental one. 👍🏻

[u/Available_Farmer5293 → u/Alicatzpajamas]

All mental health conditions are just different diseases of the brain.

[u/Ubetcha_jerky → u/fearless-swiftie71]

Welcome to the light side

[u/BWSmally]

There seem to be as many mental health conditions as there are gender and sexual identities... hyperbole, perhaps, but these issues are definitely a modern dysfunction. They are also issues of affluence. Historically, people who were just trying to survive and feed their families didn't spend so much time being introspective.

[u/BeTheHavok → u/BWSmally]

My wife grew up in poverty in Africa and she says "Americans don't have real problems so they invent imaginary ones." It's an oversimplified analysis, but it is mostly valid. A larger perspective both globally and historically would eliminate most of what people complain about here.

[u/DetroitWagon → u/BWSmally]

This is a good point. People with little income, no health insurance, or costly deductibles are less likely to seek a diagnosis for a mental health issue.

[u/brneyedgrrl → u/BWSmally]

Exactly. They don't want to give up their sexuality because it's a huge part of their "LOOK AT ME" persona, so they think up some "illness" because they still want attention. Ridiculous.

[u/jjflores91]

Does this include mass shooters?

[u/Electrical-Run9926]

Another information, only 38% of right wing men are incel. Most part of incels (44%) are left wing men. (17% are centrists) And they aren’t particularly white. https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/news/incels-are-not-particularly-right-wing-or-white-but-they-are-extremely-depressed-anxious-and-lonely-according-to-new-research

[u/HaxusPrime]

What does mental health issue even mean? I mean ADHD or Bipolar for example? Depression or dyslexia?

[u/chillychar → u/HaxusPrime]

There’s so many diagnosis for mental issues that I’m willing to bet 100% of us have a “disorder” that I’m sure people would love to shove pills at us for.

I have a hard time sleeping more than 6 hours, and I get really depressed at times, I call that being human with a bad smoking habit

[u/oscurochu → u/HaxusPrime]

I guess more research needs to be done to understand why the correlation exists and which conditions contribute, maybe there is something the left wants the right is ignoring or isn't able to provide in a less than perfect world of opposing sides.

The issue isn't being left or right, but only leaning one way all the time.

Describing politics as left and right tries to make everything seem so binary.

It doesn't matter if people are left or right, as long as their beleifs are true to their own experiences rather than what they are told to believe.

I voted conservative, and have only voted conservative so far but it doesn't mean i never have left ideas.

Its difficult to to unite when we are all divided. The constitution is due for new ammends, something that will help unite us, but so far no body has come up with a solution.

Im hopeful for good things for all people who deserve good things

[u/BWSmally → u/oscurochu]

It's like the gun control argument. It might be a good thing to implement some modern (as they say, "common sense controls") but we won't come to a consensus on it because we won't yield any ground to the other side as long as we suspect their motives. And they've given good reasons to be suspicious. So... things don't progress (even that word has connotations that stop us from dealing with these issues). The left has done a great job of controlling the language and thus controlling the narrative.

[u/Ubetcha_jerky → u/HaxusPrime]

Trump Derangement Syndrome is nearly equal to a psychotic episode.

[u/Traditional_Bag430 → u/Ubetcha_jerky]

Anyone who will stop talking to their family members that voted trump are demonstrating a mental illness. Normal people don't do these kinds of things.

[u/dreadguy101]

They’ve successfully gaslighted themselves into being stupid

[u/Creeepy_Chris]

Ever since I started eating clean a few years ago and started avoiding chemicals, preservatives, processed foods, and food dyes, etc. I can’t help but assume that a lot of these maladies young people are experiencing are diet related. Anybody else?

[u/Accomplished_Web8122]

Those hobo white liberal women you saw crying and screaming on TikTok after Trump won represent 50% of them btw

[u/OrganizationOk4457]

Source?

[u/ryan_lfc]

Wanting to murder unborn children and perform transgender surgeries on minors should be classed as a mental health issue, bringing this up to 100% of the far left

[u/Alicatzpajamas]

I’ve been in the medical field going on35 years. 99 to 1 the ones with mental health issues are libs. They are taking leave from work because they have poor coping skills, they have anxiety through the roof due to MSM, they are sad and miserable and scared. It’s sad but also so annoying.

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/Alicatzpajamas]

I specifically work with people who have mental illness. My experience says something very different. I have plenty of clients who are conservative, and an equal amount of liberals. I would say that its about 50/50. If you are coming to the conclusion that the numbers are "99 to 1", you either do not work in the medical field as you claim, or are just making up numbers to support your bias. Even the statistics presented above you in the data show nothing like what youre describing. Sorry, but it sounds like echo chambering to me.

[u/1fast_sol]

The other 50% haven’t been diagnosed yet.

[u/BrandDC]

That study is from 2020. I suspect the percentage has increased over the past four years. This election cycle produced serious wackos as seen through all of the woke, gender-fluid, non-binary, choose your pronoun BS. Social media platforms like Reddit are magnets for those with social personality disorders.

[u/Schmuck1138]

Doubly accurate if they have a septum piercing

[u/Sflover817]

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

[u/NWIOWAHAWK]

Liberals love being a victim and to not take accountability. What better way to be an unaccountable victim then having a “mental health” issue?

[u/BadWowDoge]

It has always made sense. Most normal people don’t have a crying meltdown on social media in an Arby’s parking lot after losing an election…

[u/Fun_Speed_5818]

Sad but true 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/Even_Buddy_7253]

"Correlation between progressive ideas and mental health".. I laughed out loud

[u/Chemical-Secret-7091]

It’s self-diagnosis. They all think “anxiety” is a brand new concept

[u/BeTheHavok → u/Chemical-Secret-7091]

They also glorify identifying with an issue and vilify efforts to overcome it.

[u/vocableleader68]

And yet they'll still find a way to blame men and conservatives

[u/usernamesarehard1979]

Diagnosed or self-diagnosed?

[u/EternalFlame117343]

Why don't they try to fix them?

[u/gnesensteve]

Does that mean there is another 50% out there undiagnosed?

[u/SuccessfulRanger2024]

Like we needed a formal article to know that 🤣

[u/spoontang2]

being liberal is a mental health issue

[u/WPWeasel]

I dare say a large chunk of this is tied into the media and the deliberate and constant amplification of themes that target them - Abortion, climate change, gay/trans rights, glass ceiling, etc. Now add in social media that provides concentrated echo chambers to further amplify these messages and you’ve got a perfect storm.

Is it any wonder that young women who are relentlessly told they’re going to be forced breeders, never get paid as much, world is going to end due to bad weather so don’t have kids, etc are suffering from symptoms of mental health issues? And how much of that could be alleviated by simply unplugging completely and “detoxing“ from media?

[u/coldsteele35]

Said it before liberal white women are the biggest problem in this country.

[u/Ubetcha_jerky]

liberal women beware the professor is going to speak

Professor Terguson: I wasn’t in a class room, hoping I was right, thinking about it. I was up to my knees in rice paddies, with guns that didn’t work! Going in there, looking for Charlie, slugging it out with him; While PUSSIES like you were back here partying, putting headbands on, doing drugs, and listening to the GODDAMN BEATLE ALBUMS! OH! OH! OH!

Professor Terguson: You remember that thing we had about 30 years ago called the Korean conflict? And how we failed to achieve victory? How come we didn’t cross the 38th parallel and push those rice-eaters back to the Great Wall of China?

Professor Terguson: [rips a desk apart] Then take the fucking wall apart [shouts]

Professor Terguson: brick by brick and nuke them back into the fucking stone age forever? Tell me why! How come? Say it! Say it!

Thornton Melon: [incensed] All right. I’ll say it. ‘Cause Truman was too much of a pussy wimp to let MacArthur go in there

[shouts]

Thornton Melon: and blow out those Commie bastards!

Professor Ferguson: Good answer. Good answer. I like the way you think. I’m gonna be watching you.

Thornton Melon: [chuckling to his classmates] Good teacher. He really seems to care. About what I have no idea.

[u/BWSmally → u/Ubetcha_jerky]

Classic...

[u/Ubetcha_jerky → u/BWSmally]

I get downvoted because I’m being misogynistic with my post about crazy drug addled liberal women. My thoughts went to Professor Turgeson and his Vietnam rice paddy rant

[u/BWSmally → u/Ubetcha_jerky]

Sam Kinnison would be canceled today...

[u/Ubetcha_jerky → u/BWSmally]

Marlboro!

Marlboro!

Cigarettes!

Smokey, Smokey!

Don’t you understand English!?!

I should have shot you in denang when I had the chance!

[u/BrightCry6365]

Man.. what happens after they turn 30?

[u/SpringTop8166]

All you have to do is look at the difference between the Republican women dancing to Trump's victory versus the Democratic women crying about it. One group looks normal and attractive and the other one well.... Doesn't.

[u/brneyedgrrl → u/SpringTop8166]

And even when Trump lost, you didn't see Republican women crying for the camera. We just got on with our lives.

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/brneyedgrrl]

Oh, is that what happened?

I seem to remember a year long attempt at overthrowing an election, ending with Fox News paying the largest defamation suit in American history.

[u/brneyedgrrl → u/Hank_Shaws]

Yeah, if that's what you wanna think. Go right ahead with your delusions. You and all the transgendered cat people can rule the world!

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/brneyedgrrl]

https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe

[u/brneyedgrrl → u/Hank_Shaws]

This is fun! Let's go back and forth all day!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-abc-lawsuit-settlement-first-amendment-b2666125.html

[u/Hank_Shaws → u/brneyedgrrl]

I don't hate myself enough to continue discourse with you lol. Feel free to have the last word, I think you need it more than I do 😆

You poorly attempting to compare these two settlements is going to be the funniest thing I read all day.

[u/brneyedgrrl → u/Hank_Shaws]

Cool, thanks! Happy New Year.

[u/Munthegun20]

“That’s not news!”

[u/DarthDaddy2020]

The research must've been compromised. The correct results should show 90% of all women in general have a mental health issue.

[u/Rebelfixed]

Trash post lol

[u/yoitsbobby88]

So add them together and wtf is going on!!

[u/NateisSublime]

They need to do more studies on this stuff. I truly believe there is a real tangible difference in how a liberal’s brain works, and how a conservatives brain works. I know of one study where they showed images while scanning the brain. They weren’t looking for it, but they found that people who identify as left leaning don’t react to “negative” images. Big spike in scan from right leaning folks. It was regular images and then an image of something like poop on a salad.
https://news.vt.edu/articles/2014/10/103114-vtc-politicalideology.html