Mental Health America (MHA) – which the Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW) is a local affiliate – today released its annual State of Mental Health in America report, which ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 15 mental health access and prevalence measures. In this new report, using 2020 data, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts were the top three ranking states. Arizona, Oregon, and Kansas ranked at the bottom. New York is ranked eighth.
This year’s data cannot be compared to the previous eight State of Mental Health in America rankings because the national surveillance data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rankings still give an accurate snapshot of mental health at a point in time rather than showing a trend over a more extended period.
Although not surprising based on what we know about mental health during the pandemic, it is still concerning that, overall, more than 12 million U.S. adults reported serious thoughts of suicide (4.84 percent), 16 percent of youth reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode, and nearly all (93.5 percent) of the 15 percent of adults who had a substance use disorder did not receive treatment.
“The report points to a serious crisis, especially around youth mental health, substance use, and access to care,” said Colleen Merlo, CEO of the Association for Mental Health and Wellness, a non-profit organization based in Ronkonkoma, NY. “As a nation, we need to do more to address and prioritize emotional health. Everyone should have swift access to appropriate care and the ability to live a healthy and meaningful life.”
Fifty-eight percent of New Yorkers experiencing a mental illness received no treatment, with access and cost noted as the primary reasons. Most of those who indicated they could not access needed mental health treatment reported that they could not afford care. This reason was followed by not knowing where to get services, thinking they could handle their mental health without treatment, not having time, or health insurance not paying enough for mental health treatments.
“Our country has a known shortage of mental health providers – in New York State that breaks down to one provider for every 310 individuals – and barriers are further impacted by racial disparities,” said Merlo.
MHA developed the report by gathering the most recently available federal data in each state. The majority of findings represent data collected through 2020. States with positive outcomes are ranked higher (closer to one) than states with poorer outcomes (closer to 51).
In releasing the report, MHA aims to provide a snapshot of mental health among youth and adults for policy and program planning, analysis, and evaluation; to track changes in the prevalence of mental health issues and access to mental health care; to understand how changes in national data reflect the impact of legislation and policies; and to increase dialogue with and improve outcomes for individuals and families with mental health needs.
About the Association for Mental Health and Wellness
Based in Ronkonkoma and Riverhead, NY, the Association for Mental Health and Wellness is a not-for-profit organization that provides programs, services, and advocacy for people in Suffolk County who face mental health challenges, with an enhanced focus on service to veterans. We believe that mental health is as important as physical health, and it is our goal to ensure that all local needs and voices are heard and recognized by government leaders, the business community, advocacy groups, and educational organizations in the region. For more information, call 631-471-7242 or go to www.MHAW.org.