The Lawrence Times reports Kansas rose to 22nd in Mental Health America’s 2024 access ranking, while youth depression and suicidal ideation increased.
Kansas moves up in access ranking
The Lawrence Times reports that Kansas improved its national ranking for mental health care access in a 2024 report from Mental Health America. According to the Lawrence Times, Kansas moved from 51st place to 22nd place in the national access ranking.
The reported change concerns access to mental health care in Kansas. The Lawrence Times identifies the Mental Health America report as the source of the ranking and describes the move from 51st to 22nd as an improvement for the state.
Youth indicators move in the other direction
The same data cited by the Lawrence Times indicates that major depressive episodes increased among Kansas youth. The Lawrence Times also reports a rise in suicidal ideation among young people in Kansas.
These youth findings appear alongside the state’s improved access ranking. The Lawrence Times says the combination of trends highlights continuing challenges in pediatric mental health, despite Kansas’s higher position in the national access ranking.
What the report does and does not show
The Lawrence Times extract reports the state’s ranking change and the increase in two youth mental health indicators: major depressive episodes and suicidal ideation. It does not provide additional figures, causes for the changes, or details about access in particular Kansas communities.
The report’s findings describe a statewide picture rather than the experience of any one person or family. An improved statewide ranking for access and worsening youth indicators can both be part of the mental health landscape described by the Lawrence Times.
What this means for Kansas patients
For people looking for treatment locally, the directory lists 37 published clinics in Kansas and can help people identify local options while statewide mental health access and youth needs remain important concerns.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Kansas reporting on access & coverage.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.