Alabama: A Leader in Inadequate Mental Health Care as Six Southern States Struggle with Access to Quality Treatment
The state of Texas takes the top spot for the second consecutive year as the worst state in the United States for mental health care, according to Forbes Advisor’s annual survey. One in five American adults experience a mental health condition each year, but three-fourths of them are dissatisfied with the state of mental health treatment and over half receive no treatment at all, according to Mental Health America.
Alabama ranks fourth in the percentage of adults with mental illness not receiving any treatment (62.4%) and fifth in the percentage of adults receiving inadequate treatment (35.4%). Additionally, Alabama has one of the highest percentages of uninsured adults with mental illness at 17.9%, making it difficult for many residents to access necessary treatment due to cost.
The state also places sixth for youth with private health insurance that does not cover mental and emotional problems and eighth in the percentage of adults with mental health disorders unable to see a doctor due to cost. Lastly, Alabama has one of the fewest mental health treatment centers per capita, with only 12.46 per 10,000 businesses.
However, Alabama is not alone in facing these challenges as six neighboring states – Texas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina – also rank among the top 10 worst states for mental health care. Together these states represent some of the most significant barriers to accessing quality mental healthcare across the southern region.
