A stark statistic reveals that one in five Americans suffers from a mental illness, a condition that impacted roughly 59.3 million people in 2022 alone. As we approach 2025, Georgia’s mental health care services may face significant challenges, with the state ranking in the bottom 32% of the U.S. for mental health and happiness, according to a new report from Soliant, an Atlanta-based healthcare staffing company.
To assess the mental health landscape across the nation, Soliant analyzed various metrics, including mental health outcomes, access to services, and socioeconomic conditions. The company utilized data from several reputable sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Census Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, among others.
The analysis considered five key metrics: access to healthy foods, physical activity levels, unemployment rates, the average number of poor mental health days reported by residents, and the proportion of 16-24-year-olds who are neither working nor in school. The latter group, known as “disconnected youth,” was identified as being at a higher risk for violence, substance abuse, emotional challenges, and long-term mental health issues.
States that struggled with low access to healthy foods often had higher proportions of low-income populations living in food deserts. The study also accounted for the frequency of poor mental health days reported by residents and physical activity levels, as well as unemployment rates sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
North Dakota topped the rankings as the state with the healthiest mental environment, scoring 82 points out of a possible 100. Vermont, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Hawaii rounded out the top five. On the other end of the spectrum, West Virginia ranked the lowest, scoring just 21.9 points. Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada, and Mississippi followed closely behind.
Georgia’s Ranking: Challenges Persist
Georgia ranked 34th in the country with 46.5 points, placing it squarely within the bottom third of U.S. states. This is a far cry from the top-ranked North Dakota, which earned more than 80 points. While Soliant’s ranking places Georgia lower than many states, it is relatively more favorable than Forbes’ assessment. In its recent report, Forbes labeled Georgia as the second-worst state for mental health, noting that 29.1% of residents suffering from mental illness do not receive adequate treatment.
Soliant’s study highlights a concerning pattern that correlates a state’s mental health ranking with its “disconnected youth” rate. Disconnected youth are those who are neither employed nor engaged in education, and they are at a greater risk for mental health issues, including substance abuse, violence, and emotional distress. Research shows that these individuals are also more likely to face unemployment, poverty, and long-term mental health struggles.
The report underscores the need for states to address the issue of disconnected youth as part of broader efforts to improve mental health outcomes across the nation.
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