Mississippi among most vulnerable states for mental health. Here’s where it ranks and why
The United States is facing a mental health crisis and Mississippi ranks among the top states where residents have less access to mental health care, according to new research.
One in five U.S. adults have been told they have a depression disorder by health care professional, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Mississippi is second in the U.S.’s mental health vulnerability crisis, according to a September ranking by researchers at Start Your Recovery, an online resource for people dealing with substance use issues.
Researchers ranked states across the following six categories:
- Risk of depression
- Loneliness rates
- Unemployment
- Insurance coverage
- Provider availability
- State-level mental health spending
MS mental health profile
Mississippi earned a score of 92.23/11 on the mental health vulnerability index, meaning people living in the state have a harder time accessing the mental health care they need, according to researchers.
This is how the state ranked in each category:
- Risk of depression: 30.1 people per 100,000
- Loneliness rates: 43.6% of adults report feeling lonely sometimes, usually or always
- Unemployment: 4.8% unemployment rate
- Insurance coverage: 10.3% of residents lack health insurance
- Provider availability: 237 mental health providers per 100,000 residents
- State-level mental health spending: $92.43 per capita
What states are the most at-risk for mental health?
These are the top 10 most vulnerable states for mental health, according to Start Your Recovery’s analysis:
#1 Georgia
#2 Mississippi
#3 Texas
#4 Indiana
#5 Arizona
#6 Arkansas
#7 Idaho
#8 Alaska
#9 Nevada
#10 Tennessee
What to do if you’re struggling with mental health
If you or a loved one is struggling with there mental health, here are some steps you can take to help, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- If immediate action is needed, a confidential, free suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 or messaging 988lifeline.org.
- If you or someone you know is in need of maternal mental health help, call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262)
- For natural disasters and human-caused disasters call or text 1-800-985-5990 to receive crisis counseling and support
- For longer-term aid, find a mental health service provider at findsupport.gov
More resources are available on the CDC’s Mental Health Resources web page.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
