Study: Kansas ranks last in nation in accessing mental health resources

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A current research ranks Kansas final within the nation relating to accessing psychological well being assets. That research, by Psychological Well being America, ranks states, plus Washington, D.C. by the prevalence of psychological sickness and entry to care. Kansas ranks 51st within the research.

As a Kansan who has reached out for care, Drake Koops, from Downs, mentioned rising up, psychological sickness wasn’t a difficulty that was talked about.

“That was undoubtedly not a dialog matter, I don’t suppose. Not the place I’m from anyway,” he mentioned.

Sources are particularly restricted in rural areas of central and western Kansas.

“Not except I knew the place I used to be trying,” Koops mentioned.

However the lack of individuals in want searching for assist can also be a difficulty in Wichita. The Psychological Well being Affiliation of South Central Kansas, based mostly in Wichita, reveals that greater than 100,000 persons are in want of psychological well being providers in Sedgwick County. Nonetheless, solely about 40,000 individuals make the most of the group’s providers. The psychological well being affiliation says there’s a mess of causes for why that is occurring.

Psychological Well being Affiliation of South Central Kansas Director of Improvement Eric Litwiller mentioned there are three main points.

“Insuring adults and kids is an issue. Even individuals who have entry to insurance coverage, oftentimes, that insurance coverage protection doesn’t embrace psychological well being protection,” he mentioned. “Most likely the most important issue although, truthfully, s simply the dearth of practitioners.”

Litwiller mentioned fewer individuals equals restricted entry to psychological well being professionals. That is the difficulty with rural counties in Kansas and a scarcity of infrastructure.

So, what’s the answer?

“Bettering insurance coverage choices for everyone across-the-board whether or not they’re a full-time work worker, or homeless, or anyplace in between,” Litwiller mentioned. It’s potential to handle that drawback. It’s only a perform of time and within the relationship constructing, and precedence, frankly.”

These combating psychological well being or experiencing a psychological well being emergency can name 988. In Sedgwick County, you’ll find providers for psychological well being and dependancy via COMCARE. Nationwide, you’ll find additional assets addressing a wide range of particular mental-health points on Psychological Well being America’s web site.

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