The state of Texas is well-known for its robust business environment and oil and gas production, but it lags behind in critical mental health care resources for its residents. For the second year in a row, Forbes Advisor has ranked Texas as the worst state in the country for mental health care.
The findings from Forbes reveal that Texas is not alone in its struggle to provide adequate mental health care to its residents. Across the United States, many Americans are grappling with accessing treatment for their mental health conditions. One in five Americans deals with a mental health condition each year, and most are unhappy with the current state of mental health treatment in the U.S. Over half of adults with mental illness do not receive any treatment at all, which amounts to roughly 28 million people.
The lack of access to mental health care stems from various factors such as insufficient treatment centers, high costs, and lack of health insurance coverage. In Texas, over 20% of residents lack health insurance, making it difficult for them to afford necessary medical treatments including therapy or medication for their mental illnesses. Additionally, many young people in Texas with depression do not receive proper care despite having private insurance coverage that does not include coverage for mental or emotional health issues.
Despite financial constraints, some adult Texans with mental disorders are still able to see a doctor but face long waiting times due to the limited number of available physicians and treatment centers in the state- there is only one psychiatrist per 1000 businesses in Texas which is significantly below the national average. These delays often mean that patients go without necessary treatments or support when they need it most.
To improve their rankings on Forbes’ list, states must prioritize allocating more resources towards providing accessible and affordable mental health care services to their residents. Vermont was recently ranked as the best state for mental health care by Forbes Advisor highlighting that other states like Texas must follow suit if they want to better serve their citizens’ needs regarding mental wellbeing.
