The Lawrence Times reports Kansas rose to 22nd in Mental Health America’s rankings, while youth depression increased and rural workforce shortages persisted.
Kansas moves up in national ranking
The Lawrence Times reports that Kansas rose from 51st to 22nd in national mental health rankings in a single year, citing Mental Health America’s 2024 annual report. The report evaluated states using 15 benchmarks related to mental illness prevalence and access to care among adults and young people.
According to The Lawrence Times, the improved ranking reflected gains in access to insurance and a reduction in the number of adults with unmet mental health needs. The article describes the state’s move from the bottom of the rankings into the middle tier as an important result of recent policy efforts.
Youth data moves in the opposite direction
The Lawrence Times reports that youth mental health indicators worsened despite the state’s overall ranking improvement. About 20% of Kansas youth, or roughly 50,000 children, experienced a major depressive episode in the previous year, according to the article.
That figure represented an increase of about 7,000 young people from the prior report, The Lawrence Times states. The article also reports increasing depression and suicidal ideation among young Kansans, identifying youth needs as a major continuing challenge for the state.
Adult needs and workforce gaps remain
Among adults, about 24% of Kansans reported having a mental illness, according to The Lawrence Times. More than 5%, or 116,000 people, reported serious thoughts of suicide; the article says this was lower than the prior year.
The Lawrence Times also reports that Kansas continues to face a serious behavioral health workforce shortage. The shortage is especially pronounced in rural communities and among people with low incomes, according to the article. Geographic disparities remain a barrier, with fewer resources available to some Kansans living in poverty or with histories of incarceration.
Services and prevention efforts
The Lawrence Times attributes part of Kansas’ ranking improvement to the state’s transition to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. The article says these clinics provide more comprehensive services, including 24/7 crisis care.
The article also identifies ongoing suicide-prevention work, including the 988 lifeline and community-based recovery services. While state officials and advocates saw progress in the ranking, The Lawrence Times reports that advocates cautioned against complacency because youth needs are rising and staffing remains difficult across Kansas.
What this means for Kansas patients
The Lawrence Times’ report suggests that access indicators have improved, but finding mental health treatment can still be difficult locally, particularly in rural areas. The directory lists 36 published clinics in Kansas, which may help patients identify local treatment options.
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.