Which are the worst states for mental health care?
Noting that in some states, getting access to mental health care can be more difficult due to high costs, too few treatment centers and a lack of health insurance coverage, Forbes Advisor shared its comparision among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across seven key metrics to determine which states are the worst for mental care.
Key takeaways:
- For the second year in a row, Texas tops the list of worst states for mental health care, while Vermont ranks as the best state for mental health care.
- Six of the top 10 worst states for mental health care are located in the South, including Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina.
- Five of the top 10 best states for mental health care are in the Northeast, including Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
- In Georgia, residents experiencing mental illness are the most likely in the nation to skip a doctor’s appointment because of the expense (34.4%).
The Top 10 Worst States For Mental Health Care
1. Texas
Texas’ score: 100 out of 100
Texas tops the list as the worst state for mental health care for the second time in two years. The state has a large population of uninsured adults with mental illness and has significant barriers to mental health resources.
The Lone Star State has the second highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (21.4%).
Texas also has the second highest percentage of youth with depression who do not receive mental health services (74.9%).
According to the study, Texas has the second-highest percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not include coverage for mental or emotional problems (19.4%).
Roughly one-third of adults in Texas (31.5%) who have a mental health disorder are not able to see a doctor due to cost—the third highest percentage in the nation.
The state of Texas also has the third-fewest mental health treatment centers, with 8.4 per 10,000 businesses.
More than half of adults with mental illness in Texas (62.3%) do not receive any treatment at all—the fifth-highest percentage in the country.
2. Georgia
Georgia’s score: 91.76 out of 100
Georgia has a high percentage of adults with mental illnesses who can’t access care due to cost and a lack of insurance coverage.
Georgia has the highest percentage of adults who are struggling with mental health and cannot see a doctor due to cost (34.4%).
The state also has the fourth fewest mental health treatment centers with 10.05 per 10,000 businesses.
The study also found that Georgia has the fifth highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (17.4%).
The state has the seventh highest percentage of youth with depression who do not receive mental health services (66.6%).
Georgia has the eighth highest percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems (13.2%).
The Peach State also has the ninth highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive any treatment (57.8%).
3. Alabama
Alabama’s score: 87.6 out of 100
More than half of individuals with mental illness in Alabama don’t receive the health care they need due to cost.
Alabama has the third highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (17.9%).
The state also has the fourth highest percentage of adults (62.4%) with a mental illness who do not receive any treatment.
Alabama has the fifth highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive adequate treatment (35.4%).
Alabama stands out with the sixth highest percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems (13.8%).
The state has the eighth fewest mental health treatment centers with 12.46 per 10,000 businesses.
Alabama also has the eighth highest percentage of adults who have a mental health disorder but could not see a doctor due to cost (28.7%).
4. Florida
Florida’s score: 83 out of 100
Individuals with mental illness in Florida lack access to mental health care due to high costs and a shortage of mental health treatment centers.
Florida has the fourth highest percentage of adults who have a mental health disorder and could not see a doctor due to cost (30.1%).
The Sunshine State stands out as having the seventh fewest mental health treatment centers with 11.88 per 10,000 businesses.
The state also has the seventh highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive any treatment (58.4%).
Florida has the 12th highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (13.6%).
The state ranks 12th highest for the percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems (11.4%).
5. Mississippi
Mississippi’s score: 63.62 out of 100
Mississippi has a high percentage of youth with health insurance that doesn’t cover mental health treatment, and has the second-lowest number of mental health treatment centers in the country.
Mississippi has the second fewest mental health treatment centers with 7.52 per 10,000 businesses.
The state has the ninth highest percentage of adults who have a mental illness and could not see a doctor due to cost (28.2%).
The Magnolia State ranks the ninth highest for the percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems (12.1%).
Mississippi has the 11th highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive any treatment (56.1%).
6. Arizona
Arizona’s score: 63.58 out of 100
Arizona is one of two western states that rank among the top 10 worst states for mental health care. A high number of individuals in the state with a mental illness don’t receive any treatment.
Arizona has the second highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive any treatment (63.5%).
The state also has the third highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive adequate treatment (36%).
The Grand Canyon State has the ninth highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (14.9%).
7. Indiana
Indiana’s score: 62.94 out of 100
Indiana is one of two midwest states that rank among the top 10 worst states for mental health care in the study. It has the highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive adequate treatment (38.8%).
The Hoosier State also has the ninth highest percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems (12.1%).
The state has the 13th highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (13.5%).
[Read more: Walgreens expands commitment to improving mental health, well-being]
8. South Carolina
South Carolina’s score: 62.76 out of 100
South Carolina is the sixth and final Southern state to rank among the top 10 worst states for mental health care. It has the fewest mental health treatment centers nationwide (6.84 per 10,000 businesses).
The Palmetto State also has the highest percentage of youth with depression in the country who do not receive mental health services (77.1%).
The state has the seventh highest percentage of adults who are struggling with mental health and could not see a doctor due to cost (29.1%).
9. Kansas
Kansas’ score: 54.74 out of 100
Kansas is the second Midwest state to rank among the worst for mental health care.
Kansas ranks fourth highest for the percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (17.5%).
The Sunflower State has the fourth highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive adequate treatment (35.8%).
10. Colorado
Colorado’s score: 54.38 out of 100
Coming in at the bottom of the study’s list of worst states for mental health care is Colorado. A large number of youth in this state don’t have health insurance that covers mental health care.
Colorado has the third highest percentage of youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental or emotional problems (17.2%).
The Centennial State also has the sixth highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who do not receive adequate treatment (34.2%).