An annual national report on mental health indicates significant progress for Kansas. The state improved from 51st place in 2022 to 22nd in the 2024 rankings, according to data from Mental Health America, a non-profit dedicated to mental health and illness prevention.

Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, attributes this improvement to policy changes by the state legislature. Notably, Kansas was among the first states to adopt Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), which enhance access to mental health and substance use disorder services and integrate behavioral and physical health care. Currently, Kansas has 26 CCBHC sites.

Johannes highlights that the holistic approach to health and the new mental health care models seem to be effective. Despite these gains, challenges remain, such as the need for more community-level therapists, especially in rural areas. In addition, suicide remains a critical issue, although Kansas’s overall mental health is improving, with the state ranking 24th for adult mental health and 16th for younger populations in the latest report. Johannes emphasizes the importance of resilience and continued efforts to connect more Kansans to mental health care.

You can view the full report here.