Oklahoma was ranked fifth saddest on a finance website’s list of happiest states.
Wallet Hub, a site that offers free credit scores and full credit reports, scored each of the 50 United States based on emotional and physical well-being, work environment and community, then totaled the scores to rank the states from happiest to least happy. Oklahoma ranks number 46.
The state scored lowest in emotional and physical well-being, which measured factors like suicide rate, sports participation rate, life expectancy, and number of maltreated adults. Only three states ranked lower than Oklahoma in this category.
Oklahoma ranked 35 in work environment, which measured number of work and commute hours, unemployment rates and job satisfaction.
Community and environment measured leisure time, volunteer rate and divorce rate. The state scored lowest in this category at 33.
“Oklahoma ranks very low or high, depending on how you’re doing it, in things like suicide and divorce,” OCU Counselor Jackie Ledbetter said. “So, if you figure that in, then ranking low in terms of joy makes sense.”
Students have expressed discontent about conditions in Oklahoma City, especially the area around OCU.
“There’s so much homelessness I know around the city that is just visible and you can tell there are people who are not as fortunate and likely not as happy,” said Sydnee Lasseigne, acting freshman.
Oklahoma also provides considerably low funding for mental health, said Mindy Windholz, director of university counseling.
“Oklahoma is 47th in the nation for the amount of money that is spent on mental healthcare. Per capita, we spend $53 per individual here in the state of Oklahoma for mental healthcare,” Windholz said. “The national average is $121.”
Officials offer unlimited free counseling sessions to faculty, staff and students at the University Counseling Center, located on the north side of Walker Hall dormitory.
Windholz said University Counseling always welcomes any student, regardless of their mental state.
“We want to meet the students where they’re at. We’re not pushing agendas, and we’re not here to diagnose,” she said.
Students may call Counseling Services at 405-208-7901 or email the counselors at mbwindholz@okcu.edu or jrledbetter@okcu.edu.
Aside from counseling, Windholz said there are preventative measures students can take to avoid stress during exams.
“To help reduce anxiety and to help you to feel more aware and awake, sleep is the No. 1 thing, and being mindful about getting rid of your electronics before you fall asleep,” Windholz said.
Windholz said eating healthy and reducing caffeine intake also reduces stress.
“Not to completely go cold turkey, because caffeine side effects are real, like headaches, crankiness, but maybe you don’t need your third Red Bull of the day. Maybe you don’t need coffee after seven at night,” Windholz said.
Along with resting well, sensible studying benefits a student’s mental state, Ledbetter said.
“The best way to be stress-free is to be prepared, so start studying in small bite-sizes, I would say, on a regular so that you’re not at the very end cramming,” Ledbetter said.
Supporting fellow students who are struggling establishes connection and could help them deal with stress or other issues, Ledbetter said.
“Making that human contact is invaluable. Sometimes you can’t take people’s troubles away. Sometimes it’s enough to know that someone is empathizing with you or that you’re not alone. That goes a long way,” Ledbetter said.
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