WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Access to mental healthcare in Kansas, long a challenge for residents, may be on the rise according to recent findings.
The 2024 State of Mental Health in America report reveals a significant jump in Kansas’ ranking for mental healthcare access. The state, which previously held the unfortunate distinction of being ranked worst in the nation, has now moved up to 22nd place.
However, Mental Health America, the organization behind the report, cautions against direct comparisons with previous years. The report’s methodology involves the compilation of data from multiple studies, and any change in the metrics of these studies can affect the overall rankings.
“Up until last year, it really was a tic mark on a trendline, but when the metrics change, you know, it becomes not quite comparable to apples to apples anymore,” explained Eric Litwiller, Director of Communications for Mental Health America of South Central Kansas.
Despite the positive shift, the organization acknowledges that it’s difficult to determine whether the improvement in Kansas’ ranking is due to changes in metrics or actual policy improvements in the state.