Mississippi among the 5 worst states for mental health care access. Here’s why

Mona Moore, Sundi Rose

May 8, 2024 at 3:02 p.m.·3 min read

The last few years have been hard on us all. The instances of mental illness have skyrocketed from just 10 years ago. According to a new study conducted by Forbes Advisor, one in five American adults experience poor mental health, and it seems Mississippi is no exception.

Forbes compared all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., across seven key metrics, and the results are bleak. America is not doing great when it comes to providing services for those who grapple with mental illness, but the South has proven to be the worst.

The five worst states are all from the South. Mississippi rounds out the top five, with fewer mental health treatment centers than nearly every state and limited access to health care for residents.

Texas took the honors of being named the worst state for mental health care for the second year in a row. The state has more mental health treatment centers than Mississippi, but ranks in the top three for uninsured adults with mental illness, minors with depression receiving treatment, minors with insurance that covers mental health, and limited access to treatment due to costs. More 62% of adults with a mental illness receive no treatment.

Mississippi’s mental health stats

28% of affected adults didn’t seek mental health treatment because of cost.
Only 7.5 out of 10,000 businesses are devoted to mental health treatment — this is the second fewest in the country.
13% of Mississippians are uninsured. That is more than 388,000 uninsured people statewide as of 2020.
12% of insured youth aren’t covered for mental health treatment.
More than half of adults with mental health issues don’t receive any treatment at all — 56%.

Tips to seek treatment if cost is a factor

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration is a good resource to connect you with treatment or services that fit your needs.

If you feel safe, ask a trusted professional — teacher, social worker, doctor — to recommend facilities that offer free or low-cost services.
Mental Health Mississippi offers online screening to determine your mental health. Available screenings include depression, PTSD, anxiety, eating disorders and a test for youths.
MHM also has lists of local services, including ones for crisis situations.
Check with Mississippi’s Department of Mental Health. They can help find someone in your area.
If you have a minor in need of mental health care, the Mississippi Department of Education assembled a list of resources, including a referral form.
If you served in the military, the Veterans Affairs office may be of use.
If you are in a position to buy healthcare, find free or low-cost treatments which allow you to pay according to what you make.

Things to do on your own

While it is always best to seek help when you can, the National Institute of Mental Health offers some strategies that might help mitigate the symptoms while you try to find treatment:

Get regular exercise.
Make sleep a priority.
Stay connected to loved ones.
Set manageable goals with self-awareness of what is possible for you.
Try to identify and label your intrusive thoughts.
Participate in an activity you find relaxing.

If you or someone you are close to is experiencing troubling or concerning behavior right now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7; or call 888-330-7772 in Hancock, Harrison, Stone and Pearl River counties; and 866-497-0690 in George and Jackson counties.

This Mississippi city has the third highest sexually transmitted infection rate in the US

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Mississippi’s mental health stats

Tips to seek treatment if cost is a factor

Things to do on your own

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