Prevalence of Mental Illness 2020

19.00% of adults are experiencing a mental illness. Equivalent to over 47 million Americans.

4.55% are experiencing a severe mental illness.

The state prevalence of adult mental illness ranges from 16.14% in New Jersey to 25.25% in Utah.

According to SAMHSA, ìAny Mental Illness (AMI) is defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder. Any mental illness includes persons who have mild mental illness, moderate mental illness, and serious mental illness."

Rank	State
01	New Jersey
02	Mississippi
03	Texas
04	Georgia
05	New York
06	Hawaii
07	Pennsylvania
08	Alabama
09	Louisiana
10	North Carolina
11	Maryland
12	Florida
13	Nebraska
14	Delaware
15	North Dakota
16	South Carolina
17	Kentucky
18	Virginia
19	Michigan
20	Arizona
21	California
22	Tennessee
23	Illinois
24	Minnesota
25	Oklahoma
26	Kansas
27	Arkansas
28	Connecticut
29	South Dakota
30	Iowa
31	Missouri
32	New Hampshire
33	Indiana
34	Ohio
35	Wisconsin
36	District of Columbia
37	Rhode Island
38	New Mexico
39	West Virginia
40	Wyoming
41	Maine
42	Massachusetts
43	Vermont
44	Colorado
45	Nevada
46	Montana
47	Utah
48	Washington
49	Alaska
50	Idaho
51	Oregon

Adult Prevalence of Mental Illness - Adults with Any Mental Illness (AMI) 2020

18.57% of adults are experiencing a mental health illness, equivalent to 45 million Americans.
4.38% are experiencing a severe mental health illness.
The state prevalence of adult mental illness ranges from 16.19% in New Jersey to 25.03% in Idaho.

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
51	Utah	25.25	550,000
50	Idaho	24.46	311,000
49	West Virginia	23.80	337,000
48	Indiana	22.51	1,129,000
47	Oregon	22.45	731,000
46	Washington	22.23	1,269,000
45	District of Columbia	22.21	125,000
44	Kentucky	22.14	746,000
43	Colorado	21.50	924,000
42	Missouri	21.44	993,000
41	Ohio	21.40	1,906,000
40	Alabama	21.39	794,000
39	Rhode Island	21.32	178,000
38	Massachusetts	21.22	1,155,000
37	Maine	20.82	223,000
36	Nevada	20.67	474,000
35	Vermont	20.65	104,000
34	Louisiana	20.63	715,000
33	New Hampshire	20.56	221,000
32	Alaska	20.50	108,000
31	Oklahoma	20.43	592,000
30	Wyoming	20.34	88,000
29	Arkansas	20.27	457,000
28	Delaware	20.03	149,000
27	Montana	20.00	163,000
26	Iowa	19.89	473,000
25	Kansas	19.59	420,000
24	Mississippi	19.49	431,000
23	Minnesota	19.32	819,000
22	Wisconsin	19.26	859,000
21	Arizona	19.24	1,030,000
20	North Dakota	19.13	108,000
19	New Mexico	19.10	300,000
18	Michigan	19.07	1,469,000
17	Connecticut	19.03	531,000
52	National	19.00	47,132,000
16	North Carolina	18.77	1,469,000
15	California	18.54	5,566,000
14	South Carolina	18.31	706,000
13	Tennessee	18.26	937,000
12	New York	18.25	2,802,000
11	Pennsylvania	18.23	1,814,000
10	Georgia	18.09	1,405,000
09	Nebraska	18.08	257,000
08	Illinois	18.06	1,754,000
07	Hawaii	17.58	187,000
06	South Dakota	17.49	112,000
05	Florida	17.39	2,889,000
04	Virginia	17.38	1,115,000
03	Maryland	16.96	781,000
02	Texas	16.21	3,347,000
01	New Jersey	16.14	1,112,000

Adult with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year 2020

7.68% of adults in America reported having a substance use disorder in the past year;
2.72% an illicit drug use disorder in the past year;
5.82% an alcohol use disorder in the past year.
The state prevalence of adults with substance use disorder in the past year ranges from 6.32% in Georgia to 11.55% in the District of Columbia.

Substance Use Disorder is defined as meeting criteria for illicit drug or alcohol dependence or abuse. Illicit Drug Use includes the misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics or the use of marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or methamphetamine. Misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics is defined as use in any way not directed by a doctor, including use without a prescription of one's own; use in greater amounts, more often, or longer than told; or use in any other way not directed by a doctor. Prescription psychotherapeutics do not include over-the-counter drugs.

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
48	Oregon	9.94	323,000
47	Alaska	9.76	51,000
46	Montana	9.41	76,000
45	Massachusetts	9.34	508,000
44	Maine	9.27	99,000
43	South Dakota	9.17	59,000
42	Iowa	9.13	217,000
41	New Hampshire	9.09	98,000
40	Nevada	9.00	206,000
39	Connecticut	8.82	246,000
38	Rhode Island	8.80	74,000
37	North Dakota	8.79	50,000
36	Delaware	8.76	65,000
35	Louisiana	8.69	301,000
34	Wisconsin	8.68	387,000
33	Oklahoma	8.54	248,000
32	Washington	8.53	487,000
31	Illinois	8.16	793,000
30	California	8.12	2,437,000
29	Arkansas	8.02	181,000
28	Nebraska	8.01	114,000
27	Idaho	7.76	99,000
52	National	7.67	19,026,000
26	Ohio	7.64	680,000
25	South Carolina	7.60	293,000
23	New York	7.57	1,162,000
24	Missouri	7.57	351,000
22	New Mexico	7.53	118,000
21	Michigan	7.47	576,000
19	Kentucky	7.46	251,000
20	Alabama	7.46	277,000
18	Indiana	7.39	371,000
17	Arizona	7.36	394,000
16	Virginia	7.32	470,000
15	Pennsylvania	7.30	727,000
14	Kansas	7.27	156,000
13	Wyoming	7.25	31,000
12	Minnesota	7.24	307,000
11	Hawaii	7.13	76,000
10	New Jersey	7.01	483,000
08	North Carolina	6.95	544,000
09	Tennessee	6.95	357,000
07	Maryland	6.89	317,000
05	Georgia	6.77	526,000
06	Mississippi	6.77	150,000
04	West Virginia	6.76	96,000
03	Florida	6.68	1,109,000
02	Utah	6.42	140,000
01	Texas	6.34	1,308,000
51	District of Columbia	13.01	73,000
50	Colorado	11.90	511,000
49	Vermont	10.51	53,000

Adults with Serious Thoughts of Suicide 2020

The percentage of adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide is 4.19%.
The estimated number of adults with serious suicidal thoughts is over 10.3 million—an increase of nearly 450,000 people from last year’s data set.
The state prevalence of adults with serious thoughts of suicide range from New Jersey at 3.41% to Utah at 5.99%.

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
51	Utah	5.99%	128000
50	Idaho	5.60%	70000
49	Colorado	5.41%	229000
48	Alaska	5.34%	28000
47	Vermont	5.31%	27000
46	Oregon	5.18%	166000
45	Washington	5.06%	283000
44	Indiana	5.04%	251000
43	Montana	4.91%	39000
42	New Hampshire	4.89%	52000
41	Kansas	4.87%	104000
40	Rhode Island	4.78%	40000
39	West Virginia	4.75%	68000
38	Kentucky	4.71%	158000
37	Iowa	4.69%	111000
36	Nevada	4.62%	104000
35	Wisconsin	4.60%	204000
34	Arkansas	4.59%	103000
31	North Dakota	4.57%	26000
32	North Carolina	4.57%	352000
33	Massachusetts	4.57%	247000
30	Ohio	4.56%	404000
29	Minnesota	4.52%	190000
28	Tennessee	4.50%	228000
27	South Dakota	4.40%	28000
26	Wyoming	4.39%	19000
25	Georgia	4.38%	336000
24	Pennsylvania	4.28%	426000
23	Louisiana	4.25%	147000
22	Virginia	4.20%	268000
52	National	4.19%	10308000
21	Delaware	4.16%	31000
19	District of Columbia	4.11%	23000
20	South Carolina	4.11%	156000
18	Oklahoma	4.10%	118000
17	Hawaii	4.08%	43000
15	Nebraska	4.05%	57000
16	Connecticut	4.05%	113000
13	Missouri	4.04%	186000
14	California	4.04%	1205000
12	Arizona	4.02%	211000
10	Mississippi	4.01%	88000
11	New Mexico	4.01%	63000
09	Maryland	4.00%	184000
07	Michigan	3.99%	306000
08	Maine	3.99%	43000
06	Alabama	3.89%	144000
05	Illinois	3.87%	376000
04	Texas	3.72%	754000
03	New York	3.68%	568000
02	Florida	3.49%	569000
01	New Jersey	3.41%	235000

Youth with At Least One Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the Past Year 2020

13.01% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year.
Childhood depression is more likely to persist into adulthood if gone untreated.
The number of youth experiencing MDE increased by 99,000 from last years' dataset.
The state prevalence of youth with MDE ranges from the District of Columbia at 10.49% to Oregon at 16.34%.

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
51	Oregon	16.34	48,000
50	Idaho	16.22	24,000
49	Utah	15.48	47,000
48	Maine	15.07	14,000
47	Nevada	14.97	34,000
46	New Mexico	14.88	25,000
45	Missouri	14.57	68,000
44	Ohio	14.35	129,000
43	Alaska	14.27	8,000
42	Wyoming	14.20	6,000
41	Iowa	14.10	34,000
40	Montana	14.07	11,000
39	West Virginia	14.05	18,000
38	Illinois	14.00	141,000
37	Washington	13.98	75,000
36	New Hampshire	13.91	13,000
35	Colorado	13.89	59,000
34	Michigan	13.87	107,000
33	Oklahoma	13.86	44,000
32	Kansas	13.84	33,000
31	Indiana	13.77	74,000
30	Wisconsin	13.66	61,000
29	Massachusetts	13.60	66,000
28	Minnesota	13.56	58,000
27	Arkansas	13.36	32,000
26	Rhode Island	13.30	10,000
25	California	13.23	401,000
24	Virginia	13.22	83,000
23	Connecticut	13.16	36,000
22	Florida	13.09	185,000
21	Arizona	13.06	72,000
20	Nebraska	13.01	20,000
19	Maryland	12.91	59,000
18	Vermont	12.83	5,000
17	Tennessee	12.79	65,000
16	South Dakota	12.56	8,000
15	South Carolina	12.31	46,000
14	Pennsylvania	12.23	113,000
13	Texas	12.19	296,000
12	North Dakota	12.13	6,000
11	North Carolina	12.03	95,000
10	Hawaii	11.97	11,000
09	Kentucky	11.94	41,000
08	Alabama	11.90	45,000
07	Delaware	11.58	8,000
06	Mississippi	11.56	28,000
05	New York	11.46	161,000
04	Georgia	11.44	99,000
03	New Jersey	11.17	77,000
02	Louisiana	10.76	39,000
01	District of Columbia	10.49	3,000

Youth with Severe Major Depressive Episode 2020

9.2% of youth (over 2.2 million youth) cope with severe major depression. Depression in youth often co-occurs with other disorders like substance use, anxiety and disorderly behavior.
The number of youth experiencing Severe MDE increased by 121,000 from last year’s dataset
The state prevalence of youth with Severe MDE ranges from 6.0% in Mississippi to 13.2% in Nevada.

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
31	Ohio	9.9	87,000
30	North Carolina	9.8	75,000
29	Alaska	9.3	5,000
28	Montana	9.2	7,000
26	Michigan	9.1	68,000
27	Virginia	9.1	55,000
24	Hawaii	9	8,000
25	Texas	9	211,000
22	Arizona	8.9	47,000
23	South Carolina	8.9	32,000
21	California	8.8	258,000
20	Pennsylvania	8.6	77,000
18	Arkansas	8.4	19,000
19	Oklahoma	8.4	26,000
16	Colorado	8.3	35,000
17	New Hampshire	8.3	8,000
15	Vermont	8.2	3,000
14	Alabama	8.1	29,000
13	District of Columbia	7.9	2,000
12	Kansas	7.8	18,000
10	Georgia	7.7	65,000
11	Nebraska	7.7	12,000
08	Louisiana	7.5	27,000
09	New York	7.5	102,000
07	South Dakota	7.3	5,000
06	New Jersey	7	47,000
05	Iowa	6.9	17,000
04	Delaware	6.6	4,000
03	Kentucky	6.3	21,000
01	Mississippi	6	14,000
02	North Dakota	6	3,000
51	Nevada	13.2	28,000
50	Maine	13.1	12,000
49	Oregon	12.7	36,000
48	Idaho	11.7	17,000
46	Missouri	11.3	51,000
47	West Virginia	11.3	14,000
45	Wisconsin	10.8	47,000
43	Utah	10.7	31,000
44	Washington	10.7	56,000
40	Massachusetts	10.5	50,000
41	Minnesota	10.5	44,000
42	New Mexico	10.5	17,000
38	Indiana	10.4	54,000
39	Tennessee	10.4	52,000
36	Connecticut	10.2	27,000
37	Rhode Island	10.2	7,000
34	Illinois	10.1	98,000
35	Wyoming	10.1	4,000
32	Florida	10	137,000
33	Maryland	10	43,000

Youth with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year 2020

4.13% of youth in America reported having a substance use disorder in the past year.
1.87% had an alcohol use disorder in the past year, while 3.07 percent had an illicit drug use disorder.
The state prevalence of youth with substance use disorder in the past year ranges from 3.18% in Georgia to 6.54% in Alaska.

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
51	Alaska	6.539439208	4,000
50	Montana	6.295415565	5,000
49	New Mexico	6.014429216	10,000
48	Colorado	5.597954012	24,000
47	South Dakota	5.586386863	4,000
46	Vermont	5.465448491	2,000
45	Wyoming	5.400402884	2,000
44	Oregon	5.304943479	16,000
43	Nevada	5.195238999	12,000
42	Washington	5.180724175	28,000
41	District of Columbia	5.143210752	2,000
40	Arizona	4.769366312	26,000
39	Maine	4.746754906	4,000
38	Rhode Island	4.689070325	3,000
37	Illinois	4.666726976	47,000
36	Idaho	4.646841263	7,000
35	Connecticut	4.639595161	13,000
34	California	4.625460574	140,000
33	Florida	4.535326733	64,000
32	West Virginia	4.419896883	6,000
31	North Dakota	4.385811586	2,000
30	Oklahoma	4.359725042	14,000
29	Delaware	4.321874967	3,000
28	Minnesota	4.274638216	18,000
27	Massachusetts	4.260760958	21,000
26	New Hampshire	4.254965351	4,000
25	Wisconsin	4.231806383	19,000
24	Iowa	4.177114319	10,000
23	Arkansas	4.103869488	10,000
22	Kansas	4.088204261	10,000
21	South Carolina	4.086818098	15,000
20	Nebraska	4.048445012	6,000
19	New York	4.038806972	57,000
18	Ohio	3.991856442	36,000
17	Alabama	3.961135797	15,000
16	Hawaii	3.925247869	4,000
15	Louisiana	3.886166165	14,000
14	Michigan	3.869633218	30,000
13	Tennessee	3.855519348	20,000
12	Utah	3.839603996	12,000
11	Missouri	3.719937618	17,000
10	Virginia	3.645123485	23,000
09	North Carolina	3.627702805	29,000
08	Kentucky	3.620369457	12,000
07	Texas	3.614661795	88,000
06	Mississippi	3.493247299	9,000
05	Maryland	3.449672251	16,000
04	New Jersey	3.342732377	23,000
03	Indiana	3.291448092	18,000
02	Pennsylvania	3.185802626	29,000
01	Georgia	3.182475035	27,000

Students Identified with Emotional Disturbance for an Individualized Education Program 2020

Only .73%* of students are identified as having an ED for IEP.

For purposes of an IEP, the term “Emotional Disturbance” is used to define youth with a mental illness that is affecting their ability to succeed in school.

Early identification for IEPs is critical. IEPs provide the services, accommodations and support students with ED need to receive a quality education. Inadequate education leads to poor outcomes such as low academic achievement, social isolation, unemployment, and involvement in the juvenile system. Further, the federal eligibility criteria to identify students as having an emotional disturbance for an IEP have indicated extremely poor reliability among school psychologists, and therefore must be revised to adequately identify students in need of more supports.

*The rate for this measure is shown as a rate per 1,000 students. The calculation was made this way for ease of reading. Unfortunately, doing so hides the fact that the percentages are significantly lower. If states were doing a better job of identifying whether youth had emotional difficulties that could be better supported through an IEP – the rates would be closer to 7 percent instead of .7 percent.

The state rate of students identified as having an Emotional Disturbance (ED) for an IEP ranges from 27.72% per 1,000 students in Vermont to 2.02% per 1,000 students in Alabama.

High percentages are associated with positive outcomes and low percentages are associated with poorer outcomes

Rank	State	Percentage Sort ascending	Number
15	Ohio	9.80	15208
16	South Dakota	9.76	1184
17	Oregon	9.54	5122
18	Nebraska	9.50	2664
19	New York	9.49	23429
20	Virginia	8.39	9752
21	Delaware	8.32	1037
22	Michigan	8.26	11273
23	Missouri	8.25	6738
24	Mississippi	7.90	3487
25	Maryland	7.69	6085
26	Kentucky	7.35	4468
27	Arizona	7.31	7551
28	Colorado	6.90	5578
29	Oklahoma	6.78	4073
30	Georgia	6.70	10653
31	Wyoming	6.63	570
32	Montana	6.35	848
33	New Mexico	6.20	1889
34	New Jersey	6.12	7690
35	Texas	6.09	28884
36	Alaska	5.93	707
37	Hawaii	5.92	979
38	Florida	5.84	14933
39	Kansas	5.48	2409
40	Washington	5.11	5142
41	Idaho	4.95	1354
42	West Virginia	4.94	1180
43	Nevada	4.45	1931
44	California	4.36	24818
45	North Carolina	3.81	5394
46	Tennessee	3.72	3342
47	South Carolina	3.20	2208
48	Utah	3.17	1889
01	Vermont	27.72	2071
49	Louisiana	2.79	1773
50	Arkansas	2.24	988
51	Alabama	2.02	1365
02	Minnesota	19.76	15666
03	Massachusetts	18.81	16338
04	Wisconsin	16.18	12217
05	Pennsylvania	15.50	24746
06	Maine	13.73	2243
07	Indiana	13.42	12798
08	Iowa	12.98	5741
09	District of Columbia	12.78	840
10	Rhode Island	12.49	1618
11	New Hampshire	12.32	2039
12	Connecticut	11.51	5526
13	North Dakota	10.86	1066
14	Illinois	10.17	18373

2020 Prevalence Data