Missouri, are you ok? This study says the show me state is one of the most stressed

Is everybody okay? Do we all need to take a collective vibe check? Find someone you’re close to and hug them tight.

A lot is going on in the world, and its impact reflects on Missourians. The state is the fifth-most stressed state in the United States, according to a study by William Russell, an international insurance company. The study also found that the U.S. is the third-most stressed country in the world, ranking below South Korea and Chile.

Missouri finished with a stress score of 6.08 on a scale of 10. If you’re wondering about our friends on the other side of Kansas City, Kansas finished 12th with a score of 5.48.

William Russell tracked six different metrics across all 50 states, including:

• LGBTQ+ population density

• Suicide rates per 100,000 population

• Cost of living index

• CO2 gas emissions from large facilities, measured in metric tons

• Average air quality index

• Percentage of land made up of state and national parks

Missouri ranked fifth due to the following ratings:

• An LGBTQ+ population density of 3.8%

• The suicide rates per William Russell’s calculations clocked in at 18.2

• A 91 on the cost of living index score.

• 55.5 metric tons of CO2 gas emissions from large facilities. That’s approximately 1.9 million ounces.

• In the air quality index, Missouri scored 21.5.

• Around 0.34% of land in Missouri is made up of state and national parks.

The state finished behind Texas — who was first overall — Montana, New Mexico and Idaho. Utah, North Dakota, Iowa, Tennessee and New Hampshire round out the top ten.

The Show-Me State might’ve ranked higher if it had a dedicated category to ranking sports-related stress, as the Kansas City Chiefs undoubtedly contributed to statewide shock when didn’t make it to Sunday’s big game.

This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.