(FRANKFORT, Ky.)-Kentucky has the fifth-highest rate of adults living with serious mental illness in the United States, according to a new analysis of national health data.
The study, conducted by California-based Simmrin Law Group, examined serious mental illness prevalence across all 50 states from 2021 to 2023. Researchers analyzed two consecutive survey periods to identify trends in mental health conditions.
Kentucky’s rate stands at 7,599 adults with serious mental illness per 100,000 adults—19% higher than the national average of 6,389. Between 2021 and 2023, an average of 255,000 Kentucky adults lived with serious mental illness out of a total average adult population of 3.36 million.
The analysis standardized data by averaging the number of adults with serious mental illness across the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 periods, then calculating rates per 100,000 adults based on each state’s average adult population during the same timeframe.
A spokesperson for Simmrin Law Group emphasized the broader implications of the findings.
“With Kentucky [among the states] leading the nation in the highest prevalence of serious mental illness, it’s clear that some regions are disproportionately affected,” the spokesperson said. “The data underscores that serious mental illness affects millions of adults nationwide, a clear reminder that no corner of the country is untouched by the need for stronger mental health support.”
The study utilized data from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s tracking of adults with mental illness and highlights ongoing challenges in addressing mental health needs across the country.
