Mental Health, Mapped: States Where Anxiety and Depression Rates Are Highest

Mental health continues to be one of the most pressing public health issues in the United States. Anxiety and depression are widespread across the nation, and some states are suffering more than others. While national averages provide a useful overview, state-by-state data can reveal where these struggles are most prevalent and where intervention might be most needed.

Is there a clear reason why some U.S. states suffer from mental health troubles more than others? Factors such as poverty, rural isolation, limited access to care, and cultural stigmas can all contribute to elevated rates, which makes our findings particularly important for state and federal health policy planning. These states are most in need of assistance, as their citizens are battling something unseen and devastating.

To compile this ranking of the most anxious and depressed states in the U.S., 247 Tempo used SporesMD's original 2024 data. We also referenced background insights from Johns Hopkins Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Here are the states that are struggling the most, and the data to back it up.

This post was updated on August 5th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

According to SporesMD's study, the state with the highest rate of anxiety and depression in the United States is Mississippi. SporesMD's study indicates that at least 35.46% of Mississippi residents receiving care in the state are getting treatment for a depressive disorder, anxiety, or both.

The study by SporesMD showed that 34.98% of Louisana residents receiving medical care in the state reported clinically significant levels of symptoms of either anxiety or a depressive disorder.

The third-most anxious and depressed state according to SporesMD's study is Oklahoma. Their research into health records revealed that 34.54% of Oklahoma's population is currently receiving treatment for anxiety, depression, or both.

Another state with a high rate of depression and anxiety is Arkansas. The probe by SporesMD showed that at least 34.51% of people from Arkansas are receiving treatment for depression, anxiety, or both within the state.

Coming in fifth for the most depressed and anxious state in the United States is West Virginia. SporesMD's look at the health records systems in America found that 33.95% of West Virginians suffer from anxiety, a depressive disorder, or both.

SporesMD's study indicates that the sixth-most depressed and anxious state in the U.S. is Kentucky. The study found that at least 33.87% of Kentucky residents receiving regular healthcare in the state are getting treatment for anxiety, depression, or both.

According to SporesMD, the seventh-most depressed and anxious state in the United States is Utah. Their study found that 33.87 % of Utah residents receiving regular medical care in the state were being treated for depression, anxiety, or both.

The study from SporesMD showed that the eighth-most anxious and depressed state in the United States is Alabama. According to their probe, 33.62% of people in Alabama receive regular care for depression, anxiety, or both.

The SporesMD probe indicated that Nevada was the ninth-most depressed and anxious state in the country. According to their data, 33.52% of Nevada residents are receiving care in the state for depression, anxiety, or both.

The 10th state with the highest rates of anxiety and depression according to SporesMD's study is Oregon. The organization's data reports that 32.79% of Oregon residents receive care for depression, anxiety, or both.

SporesMD found that the 11th-most depressed and anxious state in America is New Mexico. Their study discovered that 32.4% of New Mexico residents receiving regular care in the state were being treated for anxiety, depression, or both.

According to SporesMD, Texas has the 12th-highest rate of depression and anxiety in the nation. Their probe found that 31.88% of Texans experience clinically significant symptoms of either depression or anxiety.

The study from SporeMD indicates that Missouri is the 13th-most depressed and anxious state in the Union, with at least 31.85% of residents being treated for symptoms of a depressive disorder or anxiety.

Georgia was the 14th-most depressed and anxious state in the U.S., according to SporesMD. Their data shows that 31.77% of Georgians report clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

The 15th-most depressed and anxious state in America is Tennessee. According to SporesMD, 31.74% of the population experiences clinically significant symptoms of a depressive disorder or anxiety.

SporesMD found that Wyoming was the 16th-most anxious and depressed state in America. The data from their study indicates that 31.52% of Wyoming residents getting medical care in the state are being treated for symptoms of either an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder like major depressive disorder.

According to SporesMD, the 17th-most depressed and anxious state in the Union is Indiana, where 31.35% of people are receiving care for a depressive disorder, anxiety, or both.

The state of Idaho doesn't just have a ton of potatoes, it also has a massive rate of depression and anxiety, the 18th-highest in the country. 31.15% of Idaho residents report clinically significant symptoms of a depressive disorder, anxiety, or both, according to SporesMD.

The 19th-most anxious and depressed state according to SporesMD's probe was Ohio. In this state, 31.12% of people experience symptoms of depression or anxiety.

The state of Florida was the 20th-most depressed and anxious state in the U.S., according to SporesMD. Their data indicates that 30.95% of Floridians experience clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both.

Alaska was the 21st state with the highest rates of depression and anxiety in the country, according to SporesMD. 30.89% of Alaskan residents who receive medical care in the state were being treated for symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both.

According to SporesMD, the 22nd-most anxious and depressed state in the U.S. is Washington state. They found that 30.73% of Washington state residents were receiving care in-state for clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both.

California has the 23rd-highest rate of depression and anxiety, according to the data from SporesMD. Their study shows that 30.49% of Californians report clinically significant symptoms of a depressive disorder, anxiety, or both.

Approaching the median line, South Carolina has the 24th-highest rate of anxiety and depression according to SporesMD. The recent probe indicates that 30.48% of South Carolinians struggle with symptoms of an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder, such as major depressive disorder.

Right in the middle of the list is Colorado, the 25th-most anxious and depressed state in the country. 30.46% of people from Colorado who receive medical care in the state are being treated for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

Moving toward the bottom of the list, Montana came in 26th for the highest rates of depressive disorders and anxiety in the United States. 30.04% of Montana's population is receiving care in-state for clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both.

The 27th state for the highest rates of anxiety and depression in 2024 is Pennsylvania. 29.89% of Pennsylvanians experience clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

North Carolina was the 28th-most depressed and anxious state in the Union, according to SporesMD's recent study. The study shows that 29.86% of North Carolinians are receiving in-state treatment for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

As per SporesMD's data, Arizona came in 29th for the highest rates of depressive disorders and anxiety. 29.71% of the people in Arizona reported clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both during the window of records studied.

SporesMD found that Kansas ranks as the 30th state for the most depressed and anxious people in the country. Their study shows that 29.63% of people receiving care in the state of Kansas get treatment for anxiety, depression, or both.

The 31st-most anxious and depressed state in the United States, according to SporesMD, is Iowa. Their data indicates that 29.8% of Iowa's population reports clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both.

Michigan was SporesMD's 32nd state for the highest rates of anxiety and depression. According to their study, 29.52% of Michigan residents have a diagnosis of depression, an anxiety disorder, or both.

According to SporesMD, Massachusetts has the 33rd-highest rates of depression and anxiety in the country. 29.38% of people in the Bay State experience clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

The state of Illinois is the 34th-most depressed and anxious state, as per SporesMD's recent study. 29.21% of people receiving care in the state get treatment for an anxiety disorder of some kind or a depressive disorder.

Virginia has the 35th-highest (or 16th-lowest, depending on how you look at it) rate of depression and anxiety in the United States. 29.07% of the population in this state suffers from clinically significant symptoms of anxiety or depression.

The state with the 15th-lowest rate of anxiety and depression diagnoses in the U.S. is Maine. 28.98% of Maine's population receives some kind of treatment for a depression or anxiety diagnosis.

According to SporesMD's study, Nebraska is the 14th-least depressed and anxious state in the nation. 28.92% of Nebraska's population that receives care in the state has a diagnosis of some kind of depressive or anxiety disorder.

New Hampshire was the state with the 13th-least incidences of depression and anxiety in America. In this state, 28.35% of the population is receiving treatment for some type of anxiety or depressive disorder.

SporesMD uncovered that Rhode Island has the 12th-lowest rates of anxiety and depressive disorders in the U.S. 28.02% of the Rhode Island population reports clinically significant symptoms of a depressive or anxiety disorder.

The state of Connecticut ranks as the 11th-least likely state for people to have depressive or anxiety disorder diagnoses. 27.81% of Connecticut residents receive in-state treatment for anxiety or depression.

According to SporesMD's recent study, New York is the 10th-least depressed and anxious state. Their data shows that 27.55% of New Yorkers have a diagnosis of depression or anxiety.

Right next door to New York is New Jersey, which has the ninth-lowest rates of depression and anxiety. 27.51% of New Jersey residents who receive care in the state get treated for either a depressive disorder, anxiety, or both.

Going back out to the Midwest, South Dakota has the eighth-lowest incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders in the country. 27.18% of South Dakota residents report clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

As per SporesMD's recent study, Maryland has the seventh-lowest rate of depression and anxiety in the U.S. This state's residents have an incidence rate of anxiety and depressive diagnoses of 27.15%

Twenty-seven percent of North Dakota residents receiving care in the state get treated for depression, anxiety, or both, making it the sixth-least depressed and anxious state in the country.

In the state of Wisconsin, approximately 26.69% of residents have a diagnosis of a depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, or both. This means Wisconsin has the fifth-lowest rate of these disorders nationwide.

Delaware has the fourth-lowest rate of depression and anxiety in the United States. 26.33% of Delaware residents receive treatment in-state for anxiety, depression, or both.

Moving into the bottom three, we have Hawai'i with the third-lowest incidence of depressive and anxiety disorders in the country. 26.24% of Hawai'i residents and native Hawai'ians report struggling with symptoms of some type of depressive or anxiety disorder.

The state with the second-lowest rate of depression and anxiety is Vermont. 26.19% of people in Vermont are being treated for a depressive disorder, anxiety, or both.

The least depressed and anxious state in the United States is Minnesota, according to SporesMD's probe into the healthcare system's records. 25.47% of Minnesota residents have a diagnosis of a depressive or anxiety disorder.