A new study has revealed the states with the worst access to mental health services, with Florida ranking sixth-worst overall.
The study was conducted by a behavioral health treatment center, The Dawn Rehab Thailand. Researchers analyzed state mental health data, including in-state call answer rates for the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and the amount of money the state’s mental health agency spends per capita. Each state received scores out of ten for each factor, contributing to the final ranking.
Alabama is named the state with the worst access to mental health services, with a final score of 21.9. Alabama has the worst call answer rates for the suicide and crisis lifeline at just 55%, receiving the lowest score possible of 0. This is a 44% decrease in answers compared to the best-scoring state, Mississippi, which has an answer rate of 97.8%.
Between Alabama and Florida, Arkansas ranked the second worst, followed by Idaho, Texas, and Nevada. Florida had a final score of 32.12, and
has the lowest mental health expenditure per capita in the US at a mere $36.05, which received a score of 0.
Helen Wells, Clinical Director at The Dawn Rehab Thailand, commented on the findings.
“Mental health issues can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, or where you’re from,” Wells said. “If left untreated, these issues can spiral, and there is a higher risk of loss of life. Having access to high-quality mental health treatments is fundamental for people to receive the help that they need.The findings should encourage these states to re-evaluate their efforts and focus on offering better support.”
