Nearly 21 percent or about 50 million adults experienced mental illness from 2019 to 2020, according to Mental Health America's 2023 report on the state of mental health in the U.S.
The 2023 State of Mental Health in America report, published on Oct. 13 identifies mental health measures and ranks states based on 15 criteria to provide a strong foundation for understanding the prevalence of mental health concerns and issues of access to insurance and treatment.
About 55 percent of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, and 28.2 percent of adults with a mental illness reported being unable to receive the treatment they needed. Additionally, 42 percent of adults with any mental illness reported that they do not receive care because they cannot afford it.
In the U.S., there are an estimated 350 individuals for every mental health provider. States ranked higher have a lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for adults.
According to the report, here are the top 10 best states for adult mental health:
- Kentucky
- Hawaii
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
- Connecticut
- Tennessee
- New Jersey
- Illinois
- Maryland
The following 10 states have a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care for adults:
41. Nevada
42. Oklahoma
43. Idaho
44. Colorado
45. Utah
46. Alabama
47. Oregon
48. Arizona
49. Wyoming
50. Kansas