Sleep deprivation can be so harmful and distressing that it has been used as a form of torture and interrogation for centuries! Around 50 to 70 million Americans experience sleep deprivation with 35.2% of all adults sleeping less than seven hours each night on average. Of course, many factors influence sleep deprivation trends, including age, occupation, race, and location. So where in the United States do adults struggle the most with getting proper sleep? The team at Charlotte’s Web has analyzed data from the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute to find the most sleep-deprived areas in every state.

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There are many “cities that never sleep” in the United States, it seems. Many of the states and counties that struggle the most with getting adequate sleep appear to be in the South. In McGreary County, Kentucky and Mingo County, West Virginia, 49% of adults reported insufficient sleep! The U.S. Average is 35%, so that is a concerning degree higher. West Virginia also struggles significantly with mental health – another fascinating chart by Charlotte’s Web sheds light on how 30 out of the 50 U.S. counties with the poorest mental health are located in West Virginia (including the top 10). While I am sure lack of sleep is not the driving factor in these alarming statistics, I am sure it is all connected. From a design perspective, I really appreciate how the muted yellow, somber blue, and open eye capture the sense of dreariness that comes from lack of sleep. And then you have the punchy colors of the U.S. map, much like the unrelenting responsibilities that hit hard each day no matter how tired you are. I am not sure if this is how the designer intended it, but it works!

“Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there should be no distinction. It’s time to tell everyone who’s dealing with a mental health issue that they’re not alone, and that getting support and treatment isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.” ~ Michelle Obama

More than half of people with mental illness do not receive help for their struggles. This is greatly influenced by the stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that is prevalent in many societies and communities. A 2016 study on mental health stigma concluded that “there is no country, society or culture where people with mental illness have the same societal value as people without mental illness.” America is no exception, although the severity varies across regions. While stigma is not the sole cause of people struggling with mental illness, it certainly contributes to it. The team at Charlotte’s Web has created an insightful visualization of where people in the United States have the poorest mental health.

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These numbers are self-reported, which is alarming because it makes you wonder how many people are slipping through the cracks due to stigma, lack of awareness, societal influences, and other factors. West Virginia is by far the most concerning – it tops the state chart and contains the majority of the counties with the poorest mental health. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia rates are among the highest in the nation. In the Healthiest Communities Ranking, the average score among West Virginia’s counties was around 28 out of 100. The five poorest-scoring counties for mental health were all in West Virginia. Another study found that 24.62% of adults in West Virginia are struggling with mental illness. What could be going on in West Virginia? A major contributor is stigma – West Virginia has a culture of independence and grit, so it is often frowned upon to seek help for mental illness. Lack of access to proper care is another factor; the rate of mental health providers per 100,000 people is 45% below average than the rest of America.

Charts like this give us an opportunity to fight stigma. No one should have to suffer in silence. If you are someone you know is struggling, there are options.

It is no secret that sugar does more harm than good – especially for children! Studies show a negative impact on learning, memory, and academic performance. It is also linked to obesity, fatty liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and gout. Of course, cutting down is far easier said than done, especially when 70% of packaged foods and 80% of kids’ foods have added sugar! Of course, a sweet treat now and then most likely won’t have a long-term harmful impact, but it can be hard to place boundaries on sugar, especially with children. The American Heart Association reports that American children consume an average of 81 grams of added sugar per day – that is 65 pounds of added sugar per year! Where do children in the U.S. eat the most sugar? The team at MainStreetSmiles.com conducted an intriguing survey of parents on how many sugary snacks their children consume per week and day.

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Do any of the results surprise you? I was honestly quite shocked by Pennsylvania, where parents reported an average of 3.266 sugary snacks consumed per day! I did a little digging on why this might be and found a few possible explanations. Pennsylvania is known as the “snack capital of the world”, the Pretzel Belt, and the Snack Belt – it is home to Hershey’s, Utz, Snyder, Just Born (Peeps, Mike & Ike’s), Breyer’s, and other major snack companies. Overall, it has a thriving snack food scene! While snacks are wonderful, moderation is key. Check out the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s tips on how to reduce sugar in your child’s diet. Overall, I love the color scheme and adorable header – I just want to take a bite out of those letters! The proportionate donuts are such a clever way to visualize the rankings. Fun and functional!