Wisconsin
How Wisconsin Compares Against the National Mental Health Rankings – OnFocus
How Wisconsin Compares Against the National Mental Health Rankings
- The study examined multiple health factors, including frequent mental distress, life expectancy, and physical inactivity, to assign each state a mental health ranking score.
- Wisconsin secures a score of 61.8, claiming 19th place for mental well-being.
- Hawaii leads the rankings with a score of 91.4, with West Virginia falling behind at 5.6.
A new analysis has examined how each state’s mental health data compares across the country, with Wisconsin ranking above the national average.
The study, conducted by Leafwell, examined various health indicators for each state, including levels of frequent mental distress, physical inactivity, number of poor mental health days, life expectancy, access to exercise and median household income. An overall health score was calculated for each state out of 100, leading to a ranking based on these critical health metrics.
Wisconsin has calculated a total score of 61.8, placing it 19th within the overall national rankings. Despite a median annual income that is 2.6% lower than the US average, at $67,200, Wisconsin exceeds the average life expectancy by almost a whole year, reaching the age of 79. This state does experience slightly more poor mental health days than the everyday American, listed at five per month, but only 13% of the population experience frequent mental distress. Wisconsin also has a relatively high 80% physical activity rate among the population, due to 84% having access to exercise opportunities – the national average is 81%.
Commenting on the study, Mitchell L. Doucette, PhD., M.S., Director of Research at Leafwell, said, “As we delve into the intricacies of Wisconsin’s health metrics, it becomes evident that factors such as access to exercise opportunities, median household income, and mental health resources play pivotal roles in shaping the well-being of communities.”
“By highlighting the attributes of Wisconsin and other states in the rankings, we aim to inspire conversations and initiatives that prioritize comprehensive approaches to improve the quality of life for residents nationwide.”
The Five Best States for Mental Health
| Rank | State | Score |
| 1 | Hawaii | 91.4 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 83.0 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 80.1 |
| 4 | California | 79.5 |
| 5 | Colorado | 79.4 |
Securing the top spot is Hawaii, boasting a health score of 91.4. Despite its relatively small population of 1.4 million, Hawaii is often synonymous with a stress-free environment. It stands out with the highest average life expectancy among all states, reaching an impressive 82.3 years. The state also excels in mental well-being, experiencing an average of only 3.6 days of poor mental health per month. Remarkably, only 11% of the population reports more than 14 days of poor mental health in a given month, reflecting low levels of frequent mental distress.
The Five Worst States for Mental Health
| Rank | State | Score |
| 1 | West Virginia | 5.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | 8.7 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 8.9 |
| 4 | Alabama | 14.9 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 15.0 |
West Virginia has the lowest overall well-being, earning a health score of just 5.6. With a population of 1.7 million, a concerning 19% of residents report experiencing frequent mental distress, which translates to more than 14 days of poor mental health in a given month. This alarming percentage is the highest across the United States. Additionally, the state faces the challenge of the second-worst life expectancy at 74.3 years. This figure is notably four years below the national average, reflecting a critical health disparity within the state.
ENDS
If using the story, please credit and link to https://leafwell.com/medical-card/minnesota who conducted the research.
Sources: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
Methodology: The study analyzed the mental and physical well-being across all 50 states. An index was developed by gathering statistics on median household income, frequent mental distress, poor mental health days, access to exercise opportunities, physical inactivity rate, life expectancy, and population. By averaging the data and combining each variable, a health score out of 100 was calculated, respectfully ranking each state.
Full State Ranking for Mental Health
| Rank | State | Score |
| 1 | Hawaii | 91.4 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 83.0 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 80.1 |
| 4 | California | 79.5 |
| 5 | Colorado | 79.4 |
| 6 | Washington | 75.0 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 75.0 |
| 8 | Maryland | 74.8 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 73.1 |
| 10 | Utah | 71.4 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 70.8 |
| 12 | Oregon | 68.7 |
| 13 | Virginia | 68.4 |
| 14 | Alaska | 67.6 |
| 15 | Illinois | 67.1 |
| 16 | New-York | 65.5 |
| 17 | Rhode-Island | 65.3 |
| 18 | Nebraska | 62.1 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 61.8 |
| 20 | Vermont | 59.8 |
| 21 | Arizona | 58.9 |
| 22 | Idaho | 57.5 |
| 23 | South Dakota | 56.9 |
| 24 | Florida | 54.6 |
| 25 | Delaware | 54.1 |
| 26 | Montana | 54.0 |
| 27 | Wyoming | 53.4 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 52.5 |
| 29 | Kansas | 51.9 |
| 30 | Texas | 51.8 |
| 31 | Iowa | 51.2 |
| 32 | North Dakota | 50.7 |
| 33 | North Carolina | 48.7 |
| 34 | Maine | 48.5 |
| 35 | Michigan | 48.3 |
| 36 | Nevada | 44.2 |
| 37 | Georgia | 40.9 |
| 38 | Ohio | 40.9 |
| 39 | New Mexico | 38.8 |
| 40 | Missouri | 35.3 |
| 41 | Indiana | 34.4 |
| 42 | South Carolina | 29.0 |
| 43 | Tennessee | 26.4 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | 22.5 |
| 45 | Louisiana | 18.2 |
| 46 | Kentucky | 15.0 |
| 47 | Alabama | 14.9 |
| 48 | Mississippi | 8.9 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 8.7 |
| 50 | West Virginia | 5.6 |
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Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
Time to ‘fall back’ means it’s also time to check those smoke alarms
The same time to set your clocks back for daylight saving time is a great time to assure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in order.
Sunny spring evenings are just a few days away.
This weekend, clocks will “spring forward” as Milwaukee switches to daylight saving time for spring and summer.
That means you lose an hour of sleep the night before, but the city gains an extra hour of light in the evenings starting March 8, when the sun will set at 6:49 p.m., according to timeanddate.com.
The seasonal change often reignites debates about whether daylight saving time should exist at all. Though the time adjustment allows for more daylight during spring and summer evenings, many experts have argued it disturbs the body’s circadian rhythms and has other health drawbacks.
Here’s what to know as daylight saving time approaches.
When does daylight saving time start?
Daylight saving time will resume on Sunday, March 8. Clocks will jump forward one hour between 2 and 3 a.m., meaning there will be more light in the evening and less light in the morning.
When does daylight saving time end?
Daylight saving time will end for the season on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks are turned back an hour at 2 a.m.
What is daylight saving time?
Between March and November, Wisconsin residents set their clocks forward by an hour to gain more daylight in the evenings. During the other four months of the year, the clocks fall back to allow for more daylight in the mornings.
Daylight saving time was enacted during World War I in an attempt to save on fuel costs by adding an extra hour of sunlight to the day. While it’s a common misconception, its creation had nothing to do with allowing farmers to work longer hours, and the agriculture industry actually “fervently opposed” the measure, according to the Library of Congress.
When is the first 7 p.m. sunset of 2026 in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee will get its first 7 p.m. sunset of the year on Tuesday, March 17, according to timeanddate.com.
That day, the sun will rise at 7 a.m. that day and set at 7 p.m.
Why do some people want to end daylight saving time?
In the decades since daylight saving time was enacted, politicians, sleep experts and farmers have all pushed to change the practice, either by eliminating daylight saving time or making it permanent year-round.
In 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said the United States should “eliminate seasonal time changes in favor of a national, fixed, year-round time.” Daylight saving time disrupts the circadian rhythms of the human body, and the abrupt time change has been linked to higher risk of mood disorders and heart diseases, according to the organization.
The risk of vehicle crashes also increases each spring when drivers are especially sleep deprived after losing an hour of rest, the academy said.
As of October 2025, 19 states have enacted legislation to observe daylight saving time year-round, if Congress were to allow such a change, and two states and several territories observe permanent standard time year-round, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Over the years, some Wisconsin lawmakers have also drafted legislation to end daylight saving time, but those efforts have stalled.
With the action-packed Wisconsin high school boys basketball regular season completed and March Madness beginning, it’s time to take a look at some of the outstanding players and cast your vote for the best.
We began by looking at the most prolific individual scoring threats, talented 3-point shooters,strong rebounders, and top free-throw shooters so now it’s time to take a look at the high-caliber guards from throughout the state.
There are hundreds of high-caliber boys basketball players in Wisconsin, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.
Voting remains open until March 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
(Players are listed in alphabetical order and all nominees are leaders from the 2025-26 season as compiled by Bound.com, and WIAA; the poll is below the list of athletes)
Castillo is averaging 25.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for Greendale (18-6 overall record).
Collien is averaging 15 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Oakfield (21-3 overall record).
Edwards is averaging 14.1 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for D.C. Everest (21-3 overall record).
Gray Jr. was averaging 24.3 points per game with 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals prior for West Allis Central (22-2 overall record).
Hereford is averaging 36.4 points per game with 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.1 steals for Beloit Memorial (22-2 overall record).
Johnson is averaging 27.3 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 steals for Milwaukee Juneau (22-1 overall record).
Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals for Germantown (15-9 overall record).
Kern is averaging 16 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Berlin West (21-3 overall record).
Kilgore is averaging 14.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals for Kewaunee (24-0 overall record).
Kohnen is averaging 16.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for Slinger (20-4 overall record).
Knueppel is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals for Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0 overall record).
Loose is averaging 18.2 points per game with 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals for Port Washington (23-1 overall).
Manchester is averaging 35.8 points per game for Mount Horeb (19-5 overall record).
Platz is averaging 19.5 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals for Brookfield East (19-5 overall record).
Prochnow is averaging 21.3 points per game with 11.1 assists, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 steals for Reedsville (21-3 overall record).
Resch is averaging 21.3 points per game with 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals for Arrowhead (18-6 overall record).
Schultz is averaging 27.4 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals for Plymouth (17-7 overall record).
Schwalbach is averaging 15 points per game with 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for Kaukauna (21-3 overall).
Sweeney is averaging 15.5 points per game for Appleton North (20-4 overall record).
Vandenberg is averaging 13 points per game with 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds for Freedom (23-1 overall).
About Our Player Poll Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
— Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com
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