Connecticut Ranked Number 2 in Overall Mental Health and Well-Being
A new report is shedding light on the mental health crisis across the U.S. Mental Health America released their 2024 report highlighting how many people in America need and have access to mental health services. Connecticut ranked number 2 in the overall mental health and well-being just behind Massachusetts.
The access to care rankings includes access to insurance, access to treatment, quality and cost of insurance, access to special education, and mental health workforce availability.
About 23% of adults nationwide experienced a mental illness in the past year, which is equivalent to nearly 60 million Americans. In Connecticut, 21% of adults experienced a mental illness. 20% of youth, ages 12 to 17, nationwide experiencing a mental health issue with 19.8% of youth in Connecticut.
Sadly, even when people have some insurance coverage for their mental health, it does not guarantee they will be able to receive mental health care that is covered by insurance. Individuals are often forced to pay to see out-of-network providers because of a lack of mental health providers working in network. A 2024 study found that patients went out-of-network 3.5 times more often to see a behavioral health clinician, 10.6 times more often to see a psychologist, 8.9 times more often to see a psychiatrist, and 19.9 times more often for sub-acute behavioral health inpatient care than to see a medical/surgical clinician.
Access to mental health services is crucial for promoting overall well-being and addressing the diverse needs of individuals. Quality mental health care provides essential support for those experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression, and other disorders. It plays a key role in early intervention and prevention, helping to identify and treat conditions before they escalate.
To reduce the negative impact of the mental health crisis, states must take a public health approach focused on prevention of mental distress and promotion of well-being. Social and community support are integral to overall health, where low levels of social support are associated with poor health outcomes and high levels have been found to improve both physical and mental health. According to data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the most commonly reported adverse social determinants of health were social isolation or loneliness and a lack of social and emotional support, both identified as proxies for a lack of social connection.
In 2021-2022, only 56% of families in the U.S. reported that their children lived in supportive neighborhoods, (where people in the neighborhood help each other and watch out for each other’s children. Lacking community support is a risk factor for poor mental health outcomes.
To build social connection and promote mental well-being, states and localities must create communities in which people are able to thrive. Some prevention strategies, such as early childhood programs and family economic supports, have been found to have wide-reaching impact on both increased social support in communities and reduction of poor mental health outcomes and adverse childhood experiences.
To review the full report, you can click here.
If you or someone you know needs mental health services, click here.
Posted by Michelle Rappaport
