Prevalence of Mental Illness 2020

19.00% of adults are experiencing a mental illness. Equivalent to over 47 million Americans.
4.55% are experiencing a severe mental illness.
The state prevalence of adult mental illness ranges from 16.14% in New Jersey to 25.25% in Utah.
According to SAMHSA, ìAny Mental Illness (AMI) is defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder. Any mental illness includes persons who have mild mental illness, moderate mental illness, and serious mental illness."
Rank Sort descending | State |
---|---|
01 | New Jersey |
02 | Mississippi |
03 | Texas |
04 | Georgia |
05 | New York |
06 | Hawaii |
07 | Pennsylvania |
08 | Alabama |
09 | Louisiana |
10 | North Carolina |
11 | Maryland |
12 | Florida |
13 | Nebraska |
14 | Delaware |
15 | North Dakota |
16 | South Carolina |
17 | Kentucky |
18 | Virginia |
19 | Michigan |
20 | Arizona |
21 | California |
22 | Tennessee |
23 | Illinois |
24 | Minnesota |
25 | Oklahoma |
26 | Kansas |
27 | Arkansas |
28 | Connecticut |
29 | South Dakota |
30 | Iowa |
31 | Missouri |
32 | New Hampshire |
33 | Indiana |
34 | Ohio |
35 | Wisconsin |
36 | District of Columbia |
37 | Rhode Island |
38 | New Mexico |
39 | West Virginia |
40 | Wyoming |
41 | Maine |
42 | Massachusetts |
43 | Vermont |
44 | Colorado |
45 | Nevada |
46 | Montana |
47 | Utah |
48 | Washington |
49 | Alaska |
50 | Idaho |
51 | Oregon |
Adult Prevalence of Mental Illness - Adults with Any Mental Illness (AMI) 2020

- 18.57% of adults are experiencing a mental health illness, equivalent to 45 million Americans.
- 4.38% are experiencing a severe mental health illness.
- The state prevalence of adult mental illness ranges from 16.19% in New Jersey to 25.03% in Idaho.
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | New Jersey | 16.14 | 1,112,000 |
01 | New Jersey | 16.37 | 1,122,000 |
02 | Texas | 17.17 | 3,602,000 |
02 | Texas | 16.21 | 3,347,000 |
03 | Florida | 17.23 | 2,903,000 |
03 | Maryland | 16.96 | 781,000 |
04 | Hawaii | 17.45 | 185,000 |
04 | Virginia | 17.38 | 1,115,000 |
05 | Maryland | 17.57 | 810,000 |
05 | Florida | 17.39 | 2,889,000 |
06 | Georgia | 17.88 | 1,406,000 |
06 | South Dakota | 17.49 | 112,000 |
07 | South Dakota | 18.26 | 118,000 |
07 | Hawaii | 17.58 | 187,000 |
08 | Iowa | 18.50 | 441,000 |
08 | Illinois | 18.06 | 1,754,000 |
09 | Virginia | 18.58 | 1,199,000 |
09 | Nebraska | 18.08 | 257,000 |
10 | Connecticut | 18.85 | 526,000 |
10 | Georgia | 18.09 | 1,405,000 |
11 | Illinois | 19.18 | 1,858,000 |
11 | Pennsylvania | 18.23 | 1,814,000 |
12 | North Carolina | 19.31 | 1,532,000 |
12 | New York | 18.25 | 2,802,000 |
13 | Tennessee | 19.40 | 1,006,000 |
13 | Tennessee | 18.26 | 937,000 |
14 | South Carolina | 19.43 | 760,000 |
14 | South Carolina | 18.31 | 706,000 |
15 | California | 19.49 | 5,864,000 |
15 | California | 18.54 | 5,566,000 |
16 | New York | 19.52 | 2,972,000 |
16 | North Carolina | 18.77 | 1,469,000 |
17 | Pennsylvania | 19.70 | 1,963,000 |
17 | Connecticut | 19.03 | 531,000 |
18 | Arizona | 20.06 | 1,099,000 |
18 | Michigan | 19.07 | 1,469,000 |
19 | Mississippi | 20.16 | 446,000 |
19 | New Mexico | 19.10 | 300,000 |
20 | Wisconsin | 20.19 | 904,000 |
20 | North Dakota | 19.13 | 108,000 |
21 | Nebraska | 20.30 | 290,000 |
21 | Arizona | 19.24 | 1,030,000 |
22 | Wisconsin | 19.26 | 859,000 |
22 | Michigan | 20.32 | 1,571,000 |
23 | Minnesota | 19.32 | 819,000 |
23 | Arkansas | 20.34 | 460,000 |
24 | Mississippi | 19.49 | 431,000 |
24 | North Dakota | 20.50 | 116,000 |
25 | Kansas | 19.59 | 420,000 |
25 | Minnesota | 20.53 | 876,000 |
26 | Iowa | 19.89 | 473,000 |
26 | Kansas | 20.56 | 442,000 |
27 | Montana | 20.00 | 163,000 |
27 | Montana | 20.81 | 171,000 |
28 | Delaware | 20.03 | 149,000 |
28 | Delaware | 20.92 | 157,000 |
29 | Arkansas | 20.27 | 457,000 |
29 | Massachusetts | 21.15 | 1,157,000 |
30 | Wyoming | 20.34 | 88,000 |
30 | Louisiana | 21.21 | 734,000 |
31 | Oklahoma | 20.43 | 592,000 |
31 | Alabama | 21.29 | 794,000 |
32 | Alaska | 20.50 | 108,000 |
32 | New Mexico | 21.39 | 338,000 |
33 | New Hampshire | 20.56 | 221,000 |
33 | Alaska | 21.47 | 113,000 |
34 | Nevada | 21.97 | 512,000 |
34 | Louisiana | 20.63 | 715,000 |
35 | Maine | 22.10 | 238,000 |
35 | Vermont | 20.65 | 104,000 |
36 | Vermont | 22.25 | 112,000 |
36 | Nevada | 20.67 | 474,000 |
37 | Indiana | 22.29 | 1,125,000 |
37 | Maine | 20.82 | 223,000 |
38 | New Hampshire | 22.37 | 243,000 |
38 | Massachusetts | 21.22 | 1,155,000 |
39 | Rhode Island | 22.38 | 187,000 |
39 | Rhode Island | 21.32 | 178,000 |
40 | Idaho | 22.48 | 293,000 |
40 | Alabama | 21.39 | 794,000 |
41 | Oklahoma | 22.54 | 657,000 |
41 | Ohio | 21.40 | 1,906,000 |
42 | Kentucky | 22.54 | 762,000 |
42 | Missouri | 21.44 | 993,000 |
43 | Wyoming | 22.56 | 98,000 |
43 | Colorado | 21.50 | 924,000 |
44 | Missouri | 22.71 | 1,056,000 |
44 | Kentucky | 22.14 | 746,000 |
45 | District of Columbia | 22.83 | 129,000 |
45 | District of Columbia | 22.21 | 125,000 |
46 | Colorado | 23.20 | 1,014,000 |
46 | Washington | 22.23 | 1,269,000 |
47 | Washington | 23.43 | 1,360,000 |
47 | Oregon | 22.45 | 731,000 |
48 | Ohio | 23.64 | 2,112,000 |
48 | Indiana | 22.51 | 1,129,000 |
49 | Oregon | 23.75 | 783,000 |
49 | West Virginia | 23.80 | 337,000 |
50 | West Virginia | 24.62 | 347,000 |
50 | Idaho | 24.46 | 311,000 |
51 | Utah | 26.86 | 599,000 |
51 | Utah | 25.25 | 550,000 |
52 | National | 19.86 | 49,564,000 |
52 | National | 19.00 | 47,132,000 |
Adult with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year 2020

- 7.68% of adults in America reported having a substance use disorder in the past year;
- 2.72% an illicit drug use disorder in the past year;
- 5.82% an alcohol use disorder in the past year.
- The state prevalence of adults with substance use disorder in the past year ranges from 6.32% in Georgia to 11.55% in the District of Columbia.
Substance Use Disorder is defined as meeting criteria for illicit drug or alcohol dependence or abuse. Illicit Drug Use includes the misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics or the use of marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or methamphetamine. Misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics is defined as use in any way not directed by a doctor, including use without a prescription of one's own; use in greater amounts, more often, or longer than told; or use in any other way not directed by a doctor. Prescription psychotherapeutics do not include over-the-counter drugs.
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Texas | 6.34 | 1,308,000 |
01 | Florida | 5.98 | 1,007,000 |
02 | West Virginia | 6.29 | 89,000 |
02 | Utah | 6.42 | 140,000 |
03 | Texas | 6.48 | 1,360,000 |
03 | Florida | 6.68 | 1,109,000 |
04 | Utah | 6.56 | 146,000 |
04 | West Virginia | 6.76 | 96,000 |
05 | Georgia | 6.60 | 519,000 |
05 | Georgia | 6.77 | 526,000 |
06 | New Jersey | 6.71 | 459,000 |
06 | Mississippi | 6.77 | 150,000 |
07 | South Carolina | 6.73 | 263,000 |
07 | Maryland | 6.89 | 317,000 |
08 | Maryland | 7.01 | 323,000 |
08 | North Carolina | 6.95 | 544,000 |
09 | Arizona | 7.11 | 390,000 |
09 | Tennessee | 6.95 | 357,000 |
10 | Mississippi | 7.15 | 158,000 |
10 | New Jersey | 7.01 | 483,000 |
11 | Arkansas | 7.16 | 162,000 |
11 | Hawaii | 7.13 | 76,000 |
12 | Tennessee | 7.22 | 375,000 |
12 | Minnesota | 7.24 | 307,000 |
13 | North Carolina | 7.26 | 576,000 |
13 | Wyoming | 7.25 | 31,000 |
14 | Kansas | 7.29 | 157,000 |
14 | Kansas | 7.27 | 156,000 |
15 | Pennsylvania | 7.31 | 728,000 |
15 | Pennsylvania | 7.30 | 727,000 |
16 | Virginia | 7.33 | 473,000 |
16 | Virginia | 7.32 | 470,000 |
17 | New York | 7.43 | 1,131,000 |
17 | Arizona | 7.36 | 394,000 |
18 | Michigan | 7.56 | 585,000 |
18 | Indiana | 7.39 | 371,000 |
19 | Minnesota | 7.62 | 325,000 |
19 | Kentucky | 7.46 | 251,000 |
20 | Idaho | 7.67 | 100,000 |
20 | Alabama | 7.46 | 277,000 |
21 | South Dakota | 7.69 | 50,000 |
21 | Michigan | 7.47 | 576,000 |
22 | New Mexico | 7.53 | 118,000 |
22 | New Mexico | 7.70 | 122,000 |
23 | New York | 7.57 | 1,162,000 |
23 | Missouri | 7.71 | 358,000 |
24 | Missouri | 7.57 | 351,000 |
24 | Nebraska | 7.71 | 110,000 |
25 | South Carolina | 7.60 | 293,000 |
25 | Wyoming | 7.84 | 34,000 |
26 | Ohio | 7.64 | 680,000 |
26 | Kentucky | 7.87 | 266,000 |
27 | Idaho | 7.76 | 99,000 |
27 | Alabama | 7.89 | 294,000 |
28 | Nebraska | 8.01 | 114,000 |
28 | Ohio | 7.94 | 709,000 |
29 | Arkansas | 8.02 | 181,000 |
29 | Wisconsin | 7.98 | 358,000 |
30 | California | 8.12 | 2,437,000 |
30 | Oklahoma | 8.01 | 234,000 |
31 | Illinois | 8.16 | 793,000 |
31 | Illinois | 8.02 | 777,000 |
32 | Washington | 8.53 | 487,000 |
32 | Iowa | 8.05 | 192,000 |
33 | Oklahoma | 8.54 | 248,000 |
33 | Louisiana | 8.06 | 279,000 |
34 | Indiana | 8.42 | 425,000 |
34 | Wisconsin | 8.68 | 387,000 |
35 | Connecticut | 8.43 | 235,000 |
35 | Louisiana | 8.69 | 301,000 |
36 | Hawaii | 8.45 | 90,000 |
36 | Delaware | 8.76 | 65,000 |
37 | Washington | 8.62 | 500,000 |
37 | North Dakota | 8.79 | 50,000 |
38 | Delaware | 8.79 | 66,000 |
38 | Rhode Island | 8.80 | 74,000 |
39 | Massachusetts | 8.83 | 483,000 |
39 | Connecticut | 8.82 | 246,000 |
40 | New Hampshire | 8.84 | 96,000 |
40 | Nevada | 9.00 | 206,000 |
41 | North Dakota | 8.88 | 50,000 |
41 | New Hampshire | 9.09 | 98,000 |
42 | Maine | 8.89 | 96,000 |
42 | Iowa | 9.13 | 217,000 |
43 | Rhode Island | 8.95 | 75,000 |
43 | South Dakota | 9.17 | 59,000 |
44 | California | 9.23 | 2,778,000 |
44 | Maine | 9.27 | 99,000 |
45 | Nevada | 9.32 | 217,000 |
45 | Massachusetts | 9.34 | 508,000 |
46 | Oregon | 9.78 | 322,000 |
46 | Montana | 9.41 | 76,000 |
47 | Montana | 10.04 | 83,000 |
47 | Alaska | 9.76 | 51,000 |
48 | Vermont | 10.10 | 51,000 |
48 | Oregon | 9.94 | 323,000 |
49 | Alaska | 10.23 | 54,000 |
49 | Vermont | 10.51 | 53,000 |
50 | Colorado | 11.75 | 514,000 |
50 | Colorado | 11.90 | 511,000 |
51 | District of Columbia | 12.30 | 70,000 |
51 | District of Columbia | 13.01 | 73,000 |
52 | National | 7.74 | 19,314,000 |
52 | National | 7.67 | 19,026,000 |
Adults with Serious Thoughts of Suicide 2020

- The percentage of adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide is 4.19%.
- The estimated number of adults with serious suicidal thoughts is over 10.3 million—an increase of nearly 450,000 people from last year’s data set.
- The state prevalence of adults with serious thoughts of suicide range from New Jersey at 3.41% to Utah at 5.99%.
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | New Jersey | 3.41% | 235000 |
02 | Florida | 3.49% | 569000 |
03 | New York | 3.68% | 568000 |
04 | Texas | 3.72% | 754000 |
05 | Illinois | 3.87% | 376000 |
06 | Alabama | 3.89% | 144000 |
07 | Michigan | 3.99% | 306000 |
08 | Maine | 3.99% | 43000 |
09 | Maryland | 4.00% | 184000 |
10 | Mississippi | 4.01% | 88000 |
11 | New Mexico | 4.01% | 63000 |
12 | Arizona | 4.02% | 211000 |
13 | Missouri | 4.04% | 186000 |
14 | California | 4.04% | 1205000 |
15 | Nebraska | 4.05% | 57000 |
16 | Connecticut | 4.05% | 113000 |
17 | Hawaii | 4.08% | 43000 |
18 | Oklahoma | 4.10% | 118000 |
19 | District of Columbia | 4.11% | 23000 |
20 | South Carolina | 4.11% | 156000 |
21 | Delaware | 4.16% | 31000 |
22 | Virginia | 4.20% | 268000 |
23 | Louisiana | 4.25% | 147000 |
24 | Pennsylvania | 4.28% | 426000 |
25 | Georgia | 4.38% | 336000 |
26 | Wyoming | 4.39% | 19000 |
27 | South Dakota | 4.40% | 28000 |
28 | Tennessee | 4.50% | 228000 |
29 | Minnesota | 4.52% | 190000 |
30 | Ohio | 4.56% | 404000 |
31 | North Dakota | 4.57% | 26000 |
32 | North Carolina | 4.57% | 352000 |
33 | Massachusetts | 4.57% | 247000 |
34 | Arkansas | 4.59% | 103000 |
35 | Wisconsin | 4.60% | 204000 |
36 | Nevada | 4.62% | 104000 |
37 | Iowa | 4.69% | 111000 |
38 | Kentucky | 4.71% | 158000 |
39 | West Virginia | 4.75% | 68000 |
40 | Rhode Island | 4.78% | 40000 |
41 | Kansas | 4.87% | 104000 |
42 | New Hampshire | 4.89% | 52000 |
43 | Montana | 4.91% | 39000 |
44 | Indiana | 5.04% | 251000 |
45 | Washington | 5.06% | 283000 |
46 | Oregon | 5.18% | 166000 |
47 | Vermont | 5.31% | 27000 |
48 | Alaska | 5.34% | 28000 |
49 | Colorado | 5.41% | 229000 |
50 | Idaho | 5.60% | 70000 |
51 | Utah | 5.99% | 128000 |
52 | National | 4.19% | 10308000 |
Youth with At Least One Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the Past Year 2020

- 13.01% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year.
- Childhood depression is more likely to persist into adulthood if gone untreated.
- The number of youth experiencing MDE increased by 99,000 from last years' dataset.
- The state prevalence of youth with MDE ranges from the District of Columbia at 10.49% to Oregon at 16.34%.
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | District of Columbia | 10.49 | 3,000 |
02 | Louisiana | 10.76 | 39,000 |
03 | New Jersey | 11.17 | 77,000 |
04 | Georgia | 11.44 | 99,000 |
05 | New York | 11.46 | 161,000 |
06 | Mississippi | 11.56 | 28,000 |
07 | Delaware | 11.58 | 8,000 |
08 | Alabama | 11.90 | 45,000 |
09 | Kentucky | 11.94 | 41,000 |
10 | Hawaii | 11.97 | 11,000 |
11 | North Carolina | 12.03 | 95,000 |
12 | North Dakota | 12.13 | 6,000 |
13 | Texas | 12.19 | 296,000 |
14 | Pennsylvania | 12.23 | 113,000 |
15 | South Carolina | 12.31 | 46,000 |
16 | South Dakota | 12.56 | 8,000 |
17 | Tennessee | 12.79 | 65,000 |
18 | Vermont | 12.83 | 5,000 |
19 | Maryland | 12.91 | 59,000 |
20 | Nebraska | 13.01 | 20,000 |
21 | Arizona | 13.06 | 72,000 |
22 | Florida | 13.09 | 185,000 |
23 | Connecticut | 13.16 | 36,000 |
24 | Virginia | 13.22 | 83,000 |
25 | California | 13.23 | 401,000 |
26 | Rhode Island | 13.30 | 10,000 |
27 | Arkansas | 13.36 | 32,000 |
28 | Minnesota | 13.56 | 58,000 |
29 | Massachusetts | 13.60 | 66,000 |
30 | Wisconsin | 13.66 | 61,000 |
31 | Indiana | 13.77 | 74,000 |
32 | Kansas | 13.84 | 33,000 |
33 | Oklahoma | 13.86 | 44,000 |
34 | Michigan | 13.87 | 107,000 |
35 | Colorado | 13.89 | 59,000 |
36 | New Hampshire | 13.91 | 13,000 |
37 | Washington | 13.98 | 75,000 |
38 | Illinois | 14.00 | 141,000 |
39 | West Virginia | 14.05 | 18,000 |
40 | Montana | 14.07 | 11,000 |
41 | Iowa | 14.10 | 34,000 |
42 | Wyoming | 14.20 | 6,000 |
43 | Alaska | 14.27 | 8,000 |
44 | Ohio | 14.35 | 129,000 |
45 | Missouri | 14.57 | 68,000 |
46 | New Mexico | 14.88 | 25,000 |
47 | Nevada | 14.97 | 34,000 |
48 | Maine | 15.07 | 14,000 |
49 | Utah | 15.48 | 47,000 |
50 | Idaho | 16.22 | 24,000 |
51 | Oregon | 16.34 | 48,000 |
Youth with Severe Major Depressive Episode 2020

- 9.2% of youth (over 2.2 million youth) cope with severe major depression. Depression in youth often co-occurs with other disorders like substance use, anxiety and disorderly behavior.
- The number of youth experiencing Severe MDE increased by 121,000 from last year’s dataset
- The state prevalence of youth with Severe MDE ranges from 6.0% in Mississippi to 13.2% in Nevada.
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Mississippi | 6 | 14,000 |
02 | North Dakota | 6 | 3,000 |
03 | Kentucky | 6.3 | 21,000 |
04 | Delaware | 6.6 | 4,000 |
05 | Iowa | 6.9 | 17,000 |
06 | New Jersey | 7 | 47,000 |
07 | South Dakota | 7.3 | 5,000 |
08 | Louisiana | 7.5 | 27,000 |
09 | New York | 7.5 | 102,000 |
10 | Georgia | 7.7 | 65,000 |
11 | Nebraska | 7.7 | 12,000 |
12 | Kansas | 7.8 | 18,000 |
13 | District of Columbia | 7.9 | 2,000 |
14 | Alabama | 8.1 | 29,000 |
15 | Vermont | 8.2 | 3,000 |
16 | Colorado | 8.3 | 35,000 |
17 | New Hampshire | 8.3 | 8,000 |
18 | Arkansas | 8.4 | 19,000 |
19 | Oklahoma | 8.4 | 26,000 |
20 | Pennsylvania | 8.6 | 77,000 |
21 | California | 8.8 | 258,000 |
22 | Arizona | 8.9 | 47,000 |
23 | South Carolina | 8.9 | 32,000 |
24 | Hawaii | 9 | 8,000 |
25 | Texas | 9 | 211,000 |
26 | Michigan | 9.1 | 68,000 |
27 | Virginia | 9.1 | 55,000 |
28 | Montana | 9.2 | 7,000 |
29 | Alaska | 9.3 | 5,000 |
30 | North Carolina | 9.8 | 75,000 |
31 | Ohio | 9.9 | 87,000 |
32 | Florida | 10 | 137,000 |
33 | Maryland | 10 | 43,000 |
34 | Illinois | 10.1 | 98,000 |
35 | Wyoming | 10.1 | 4,000 |
36 | Connecticut | 10.2 | 27,000 |
37 | Rhode Island | 10.2 | 7,000 |
38 | Indiana | 10.4 | 54,000 |
39 | Tennessee | 10.4 | 52,000 |
40 | Massachusetts | 10.5 | 50,000 |
41 | Minnesota | 10.5 | 44,000 |
42 | New Mexico | 10.5 | 17,000 |
43 | Utah | 10.7 | 31,000 |
44 | Washington | 10.7 | 56,000 |
45 | Wisconsin | 10.8 | 47,000 |
46 | Missouri | 11.3 | 51,000 |
47 | West Virginia | 11.3 | 14,000 |
48 | Idaho | 11.7 | 17,000 |
49 | Oregon | 12.7 | 36,000 |
50 | Maine | 13.1 | 12,000 |
51 | Nevada | 13.2 | 28,000 |
Youth with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year 2020

- 4.13% of youth in America reported having a substance use disorder in the past year.
- 1.87% had an alcohol use disorder in the past year, while 3.07 percent had an illicit drug use disorder.
- The state prevalence of youth with substance use disorder in the past year ranges from 3.18% in Georgia to 6.54% in Alaska.
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Georgia | 3.182475035 | 27,000 |
02 | Pennsylvania | 3.185802626 | 29,000 |
03 | Indiana | 3.291448092 | 18,000 |
04 | New Jersey | 3.342732377 | 23,000 |
05 | Maryland | 3.449672251 | 16,000 |
06 | Mississippi | 3.493247299 | 9,000 |
07 | Texas | 3.614661795 | 88,000 |
08 | Kentucky | 3.620369457 | 12,000 |
09 | North Carolina | 3.627702805 | 29,000 |
10 | Virginia | 3.645123485 | 23,000 |
11 | Missouri | 3.719937618 | 17,000 |
12 | Utah | 3.839603996 | 12,000 |
13 | Tennessee | 3.855519348 | 20,000 |
14 | Michigan | 3.869633218 | 30,000 |
15 | Louisiana | 3.886166165 | 14,000 |
16 | Hawaii | 3.925247869 | 4,000 |
17 | Alabama | 3.961135797 | 15,000 |
18 | Ohio | 3.991856442 | 36,000 |
19 | New York | 4.038806972 | 57,000 |
20 | Nebraska | 4.048445012 | 6,000 |
21 | South Carolina | 4.086818098 | 15,000 |
22 | Kansas | 4.088204261 | 10,000 |
23 | Arkansas | 4.103869488 | 10,000 |
24 | Iowa | 4.177114319 | 10,000 |
25 | Wisconsin | 4.231806383 | 19,000 |
26 | New Hampshire | 4.254965351 | 4,000 |
27 | Massachusetts | 4.260760958 | 21,000 |
28 | Minnesota | 4.274638216 | 18,000 |
29 | Delaware | 4.321874967 | 3,000 |
30 | Oklahoma | 4.359725042 | 14,000 |
31 | North Dakota | 4.385811586 | 2,000 |
32 | West Virginia | 4.419896883 | 6,000 |
33 | Florida | 4.535326733 | 64,000 |
34 | California | 4.625460574 | 140,000 |
35 | Connecticut | 4.639595161 | 13,000 |
36 | Idaho | 4.646841263 | 7,000 |
37 | Illinois | 4.666726976 | 47,000 |
38 | Rhode Island | 4.689070325 | 3,000 |
39 | Maine | 4.746754906 | 4,000 |
40 | Arizona | 4.769366312 | 26,000 |
41 | District of Columbia | 5.143210752 | 2,000 |
42 | Washington | 5.180724175 | 28,000 |
43 | Nevada | 5.195238999 | 12,000 |
44 | Oregon | 5.304943479 | 16,000 |
45 | Wyoming | 5.400402884 | 2,000 |
46 | Vermont | 5.465448491 | 2,000 |
47 | South Dakota | 5.586386863 | 4,000 |
48 | Colorado | 5.597954012 | 24,000 |
49 | New Mexico | 6.014429216 | 10,000 |
50 | Montana | 6.295415565 | 5,000 |
51 | Alaska | 6.539439208 | 4,000 |
Students Identified with Emotional Disturbance for an Individualized Education Program 2020

Only .73%* of students are identified as having an ED for IEP.
For purposes of an IEP, the term “Emotional Disturbance” is used to define youth with a mental illness that is affecting their ability to succeed in school.
Early identification for IEPs is critical. IEPs provide the services, accommodations and support students with ED need to receive a quality education. Inadequate education leads to poor outcomes such as low academic achievement, social isolation, unemployment, and involvement in the juvenile system. Further, the federal eligibility criteria to identify students as having an emotional disturbance for an IEP have indicated extremely poor reliability among school psychologists, and therefore must be revised to adequately identify students in need of more supports.
*The rate for this measure is shown as a rate per 1,000 students. The calculation was made this way for ease of reading. Unfortunately, doing so hides the fact that the percentages are significantly lower. If states were doing a better job of identifying whether youth had emotional difficulties that could be better supported through an IEP – the rates would be closer to 7 percent instead of .7 percent.
The state rate of students identified as having an Emotional Disturbance (ED) for an IEP ranges from 27.72% per 1,000 students in Vermont to 2.02% per 1,000 students in Alabama.
High percentages are associated with positive outcomes and low percentages are associated with poorer outcomes
Rank Sort descending | State | Percentage | Number |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Vermont | 27.72 | 2071 |
02 | Minnesota | 19.76 | 15666 |
03 | Massachusetts | 18.81 | 16338 |
04 | Wisconsin | 16.18 | 12217 |
05 | Pennsylvania | 15.50 | 24746 |
06 | Maine | 13.73 | 2243 |
07 | Indiana | 13.42 | 12798 |
08 | Iowa | 12.98 | 5741 |
09 | District of Columbia | 12.78 | 840 |
10 | Rhode Island | 12.49 | 1618 |
11 | New Hampshire | 12.32 | 2039 |
12 | Connecticut | 11.51 | 5526 |
13 | North Dakota | 10.86 | 1066 |
14 | Illinois | 10.17 | 18373 |
15 | Ohio | 9.80 | 15208 |
16 | South Dakota | 9.76 | 1184 |
17 | Oregon | 9.54 | 5122 |
18 | Nebraska | 9.50 | 2664 |
19 | New York | 9.49 | 23429 |
20 | Virginia | 8.39 | 9752 |
21 | Delaware | 8.32 | 1037 |
22 | Michigan | 8.26 | 11273 |
23 | Missouri | 8.25 | 6738 |
24 | Mississippi | 7.90 | 3487 |
25 | Maryland | 7.69 | 6085 |
26 | Kentucky | 7.35 | 4468 |
27 | Arizona | 7.31 | 7551 |
28 | Colorado | 6.90 | 5578 |
29 | Oklahoma | 6.78 | 4073 |
30 | Georgia | 6.70 | 10653 |
31 | Wyoming | 6.63 | 570 |
32 | Montana | 6.35 | 848 |
33 | New Mexico | 6.20 | 1889 |
34 | New Jersey | 6.12 | 7690 |
35 | Texas | 6.09 | 28884 |
36 | Alaska | 5.93 | 707 |
37 | Hawaii | 5.92 | 979 |
38 | Florida | 5.84 | 14933 |
39 | Kansas | 5.48 | 2409 |
40 | Washington | 5.11 | 5142 |
41 | Idaho | 4.95 | 1354 |
42 | West Virginia | 4.94 | 1180 |
43 | Nevada | 4.45 | 1931 |
44 | California | 4.36 | 24818 |
45 | North Carolina | 3.81 | 5394 |
46 | Tennessee | 3.72 | 3342 |
47 | South Carolina | 3.20 | 2208 |
48 | Utah | 3.17 | 1889 |
49 | Louisiana | 2.79 | 1773 |
50 | Arkansas | 2.24 | 988 |
51 | Alabama | 2.02 | 1365 |