Kansas sees increase in mental health care access

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Mental health care can be hard to access in Kansas. One study’s findings suggest things could be looking up.

The 2024 State of Mental Health in America report shows a big improvement in Kansas’ ranking. Kansas jumped from being the state with the worst mental health care access to number 22 in rank.

However, Mental Health America, the organization putting together the report, says this year’s report can’t be compared to previous years.

That’s because the report uses several other studies to compile information, so any time one study changes its metrics, it changes the metrics of the entire report.

“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,” said Eric Litwiller, the director of communications for Mental Health America of South Central Kansas.

Even with the changes Mental Health America says it’s hard to say whether Kansas’ ranking went up more because of metrics or because of policy changes.

More resources can be found here .

To find a full list of mental health resources, click here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.