Utah had the highest prevalence of serious mental illness among states, while New Jersey had the lowest, according to KFF.
The data comes from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health — the latest data available — and reflects the estimated share of adults who experienced prevalence of serious mental illness among U.S. adults.
Adults were classified as having serious mental illness if they reported symptoms consistent with a probable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder — based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition — that substantially impaired one or more major life activities.
Here are the states with the highest and lowest rates of serious mental illness in the past year:
Highest
1. Utah — 8.4%
2. Oregon — 8%
2. West Virginia — 8%
4. Vermont — 7.7%
5. New Hampshire — 7.5%
6. Wyoming — 7.4%
7. Washington — 7.2%
8. Iowa — 7.1%
9. Colorado — 7%
9. Tennessee — 7%
11. Kentucky — 6.9%
11. Montana — 6.9%
Lowest
1. New Jersey — 4%
2. Hawaii — 4.3%
3. Florida — 4.5%
4. South Carolina — 4.6%
5. New York — 4.7%
6. California — 4.8%
6. Mississippi — 4.8%
8. North Carolina — 5%
9. Maryland — 5.1%
9. Texas — 5.1%
10. Michigan — 5.2%
10. Illinois — 5.2%
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