AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is the worst state for mental health care in the country, according to a new report by Forbes Advisor.
Forbes Advisor reports that one in five American adults experiences a mental health condition each year. But despite that, a majority of Americans (76%) aren't satisfied with the state of mental health treatment in the U.S.
Mental Health America data cited in the report shows that 54.7% of adults with mental illness don't receive any treatment and more than one in four (28.2%) don't receive adequate treatment.
To determine which states are the worst for mental health care, Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using these metrics:
- Percentage of adults with a mental illness who don't receive treatment
- Percentage of adults with a mental illness who don't receive adequate treatment
- Percentage of adults who are struggling with mental health and couldn't see a doctor due to cost
- Percentage of youth with depression who don't receive mental health services
- Percentage of adults with mental illness who are uninsured
- Percentage of youth with private health insurance that doesn't cover mental or emotional problems
- Number of mental health treatment centers per 10,000 businesses
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Based on that information, Texas topped the list as the worst state for mental health care for the second time in two years.
The report found that Texas has the second highest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured (21.4%), the second highest percentage of youth with depression who don't receive mental health services (74.9%) and the second highest percentage of youth with private health insurance that doesn't include mental or emotional problems (19.4%).
Additionally, the report found that about one-third of Texas adults (31.5%) who have a mental health disorder aren't able to see a doctor because of cost – the third highest percentage in the nation – and more than half of Texas adults with mental illness (62.3%) don't receive any treatment at all – the fifth highest percentage in the U.S.
Finally, Texas has the third fewest mental health treatment centers, with 8.4 per 10,000 businesses.
To learn more, read Forbes Advisor's full report.