States With Highest Rates of Mental Illness

Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders By State

 

Mental health is a struggle for many Americans. Many people are unwilling to discuss their illness and few ever seek treatment. During the pandemic, it is expected that even larger numbers of people experienced some form of mental illness including depression, stress, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.

States With the Highest Rates of Mental Illness

According to Mental Health America (MHA), the following have the highest prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care:

  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Idaho
  • Wyoming
  • Nevada
  • Washington
  • Louisiana
  • Alaska
  • Kansas
  • Virginia
  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia

To determine these rankings, Mental Health America used 7 measures. These measures included:

  • The number of adults with any mental illness;
  • The number of adults with substance use disorder in the past year;
  • The number of adults with serious thoughts of suicide;
  • The number of adults with any mental illness who are uninsured;
  • The number of adults with any mental illness who did not receive treatment;
  • The number of adults with any mental illness reporting unmet need; and
  • The number of adults with a disability who could not see a doctor due to costs.

As noted by Mental Health America, there are millions of Americans who report experiencing some form of mental illness. Hawaii topped the list for having a lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for adults.

A mental health disorder can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. It can affect their physical, mental, and emotional well-being as well as their ability to maintain relationships and employment. 

A mental illness can be devastating to the individual and their loved ones. It is important to encourage loved ones to seek treatment if they are experiencing signs of mental illness.