Arizona and Nevada ranked at the bottom of state mental health rankings in a 2025 report by Mental Health America, a Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1909. Arizona came in at 50 and Nevada at 51 on the overall state rankings that included Washington, D.C. States near the bottom had higher rates of mental illness and lower access to mental health care in 2022 and 2023.
Breakdown by Categories
Arizona didn’t perform as poorly in some specific categories, ranking No. 34 for adult mental illness and No. 22 for adults with suicidal ideations. However, poor access to care and high prevalence of youth mental illness brought the state’s overall ranking down to the bottom. The report noted that both Arizona and Nevada have higher rates of mental illness and lower mental health care access.
National Context
In 2024, almost one in four Americans experienced mental illness, almost 18% had substance abuse problems, and over 5% contemplated suicide. The report’s data came mostly from federal reports published in 2022 and 2023, with some obtained in 2024.
Youth Mental Health
Arizona’s youth factors affecting its ranking included youth with at least one major depressive episode in the past year, youth with private insurance that didn’t cover mental or emotional problems, and mental health workforce availability. The findings underscore a high need for strategic investment in mental health services in Arizona and Nevada, as noted in previous reports documenting similar problems.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2025/10/02/mental-health-america-2025-report-arizona/86464875007/