Alabama
Stress in Alabama: High rankings, real pressures, and paths to relief – Yellowhammer News
From sleepless nights to financial worries, stress has become a daily reality for many Alabamians—and it shows in the data. A new 2025 WalletHub study confirms that Alabama ranks among the top 10 most stressed states in the U.S., placing 8th overall.
The study analyzed 40 key indicators of stress, including work hours, financial strain, family pressures, and health-related challenges. Alabama was one of six Southern states to appear in the top 10, underscoring the region’s ongoing struggle with mental health access, economic insecurity, and limited resources.
The report evaluated multiple stressors and revealed that residents of Alabama experience disproportionate levels of financial and health-related stress. Key findings include:
Key Stress Indicators for Alabama
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3rd fewest average hours of sleep per night
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2nd-fewest psychologists per capita
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3rd lowest average credit scores in the U.S.
These factors contributed to the state’s high stress ranking, which reflects ongoing strain in daily life and long-term well-being.
Top 10 Most Stressed States in 2025
Source: WalletHub’s analysis of 40 stress-related metrics
| Rank | State | Stress Level |
|---|---|---|
| 🟥 1 | New Mexico | Very High |
| 🟥 2 | Nevada | Very High |
| 🟥 3 | Louisiana | Very High |
| 🟧 4 | West Virginia | High |
| 🟧 5 | Mississippi | High |
| 🟨 6 | Tennessee | Moderate-High |
| 🟨 7 | Arkansas | Moderate-High |
| 🟨 8 | Alabama | Moderate-High |
| 🟩 9 | Florida | Moderate |
| 🟩 10 | Oregon | Moderate |
Color Legend: 🟥 Very High | 🟧 High | 🟨 Moderate-High | 🟩 Moderate
Southern States Under Pressure
The Deep South remains a stress hotspot. Alabama joins Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida in the top 10, highlighting a regional trend shaped by long-standing challenges like limited access to mental health care, lower credit scores, and economic instability.
Solutions and Support: What’s Being Done
Despite the troubling statistics, Alabama is taking steps to reduce stress levels through statewide and community-based initiatives.
Statewide Crisis Support
The Alabama Crisis System of Care provides comprehensive mental health services, including:
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The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7
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Regional crisis centers for psychiatric evaluation and stabilization
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Mobile crisis teams for on-site intervention
These services aim to reduce emergency room visits and offer faster help to those in crisis.
Community and Campus Resources
Organizations and institutions across Alabama offer free or low-cost stress-reduction programs. Some examples include:
Healthy Habits for Everyday Stress
Alabamians can also manage stress through personal routines:
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Regular physical activity, like walking or biking
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Practicing relaxation techniques, including deep breathing and mindfulness
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Maintaining balanced sleep and nutrition
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Seeking out community support networks
About the Study
WalletHub’s 2025 report analyzed data from government and research sources, grouping indicators into four categories: work stress, money stress, family stress, and health & safety stress.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
Alabama
Alabama Shakes Set Spring 2026 Tour Dates
Alabama Shakes have lined up a string of North American tour dates for 2026. Brittany Howard and the band’s spring run includes multiple stops in Florida and a concluding two-night stint at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, Colorado. Check out the new dates, plus their previously announced festival shows, European itinerary, and Zach Bryan support dates, below.
Support for the headline shows comes from Joy Oladokun, Mon Rovîa, Lamont Landers, and JJ Grey & Mofro. For every ticket sold, $1 will go towards nonprofits around the United States via the Alabama Shakes Fund, a press release notes. There is, as yet, no word on a follow-up to the band’s 2015 album, Sound & Color, but they did sign to Island this year and release their first single since that record.
Alabama Shakes:
04-16 Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront ~
04-17 Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena ~
04-18 Charleston, SC – High Water Fest
04-22 Memphis, TN – Grind City Amphitheater +
04-24 Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park +
04-25 Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater +
04-26 St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre %
04-28 Tallahassee, FL – Adderley Amphitheater %
04-29 Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Amphitheater %
04-30 Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound %
05-02 New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
05-24 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
05-25 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
06-13 Manchester, Tennessee – Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
07-01 Leeds, England – Millennium Square
07-02 Wasing, England – On the Mount at Wasing
07-03 London, England – Alexandra Palace *
07-05 Ghent, Belgium – Gent Jazz Festival
07-07 Lucca, Italy – Summer Festival
07-09 Lisbon, Portugal – NOS Alive Festival
07-10 Bilbao, Spain – BBK Live
07-11 Madrid, Spain – Noches del Botanico
07-25 Eugene, OR – Autzen Stadium ^
09-19 Dover, DE – The Woodlands ^
~ with Joy Oladokun
+ with Mon Rovîa
% with Lamont Landers
# with JJ Grey & Mofro
* with Tyler Ballgame
^ supporting Zach Bryan
Alabama
Jacob Crews scores 20 for Missouri in 85-77 win over Alabama State
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jacob Crews scored 20, and Anthony Robinson II added 19 in Missouri’s 85-77 win over Alabama State on Thursday night.
Crews shot 7 of 9 from the field, including 6 of 8 from the 3-point arc. Mark Mitchell added 15 points for Missouri (9-2), and Sebastian Mack added 10.
The Tigers had a 15-0 run in the first half, heading into the locker room up 52-39. Alabama State was held scoreless over a 4:19 drought in the middle of the second half to open a 9-0 run for the Tigers. The Hornets (3-8) responded with their own 10-0 run to bring the game within eight, 74-62. The Tigers regained control, though, to keep their eight-point lead the rest of the game, handing Alabama State their fourth loss in a row.
The Tigers shot 65% (33 of 51). Both teams shot 50% from the free-throw line.
Alabama State outscored Missouri in the final period, 38-33. Asjon Anderscon scored 23 for the Hornets, leading all players in scoring.
Up next
Missouri hosts Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 14.
Alabama State travels to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats on Dec. 17.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Alabama
Katie Windham Highlights Alabama Areas of Improvement on The Joe Gaither Show
Let’s crank up a Thursday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” with Mason Woods and Katie Windham as we start getting ready for next week’s College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Oklahoma. Windham detailed how the Crimson Tide can improve over the next few weeks, we discuss the team’s health and look back at our last road trip to Norman. The show then discusses the Heisman Trophy finalists before addressing a Kalen DeBoer coaching rumor.
The program opens by power ranking the holidays before discussing Windham’s three areas the Crimson Tide can improve over the next week. Our trio picks the easiest area the team can improve and how Alabama must perform in Norman. Windham details our last trip to Oklahoma as we go down memory lane to the Sooners’ 24-3 victory last season.
The show continues on by getting Windham’s thoughts on Alabama’a College Football Playoff selection and if the Crimson Tide actually deserved its place in the field. She brings up a unique aspect of Alabama’s blowout loss in the SEC Championship and how it played into the program’s inclusion in the College Football Playoffs.
We move from next week’s game into a small discussion on Notre Dame’s reaction of being left out of the field and how it relates to Alabama’s future home-and-home dates with the Fighting Irish. Will the two esteemed programs still face off in a few years?
The show heads into the only college football action of the weekend by highlighting the strong Heisman Trophy finalist field. Who brings home the bronze statue?
Lastly, we spend the final bit of the show talking about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore and the reports of the Wolverines considering persuing Kalen DeBeor for their next head coach. Will DeBoer leave Tuscaloosa for Ann Arbor?
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