JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – A new study revealed sobering data about the state of mental health in Mississippi.
Meditation music site MindWings analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from the Household Pulse Survey between 2020 and 2023 to see which states reported symptoms of anxiety and depression the most. About 39%, or roughly two in five respondents from Mississippi, reported experiencing these symptoms. That is the second-highest rate nationally, and 4.8 percentage points higher than the national average at the end of each survey period.
Mindwings founder Robert Vergin believes that the high numbers correlate partly with obstacles Americans have faced since 2020.
“The past few years have been particularly hard for people to look after their mental health,” Vergin said. “Factors such as the pandemic and its economic repercussions stand out as significant stressors.”
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The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports similar findings. In February 2021, more than 42% of Mississippians reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. NAMI also found that 431,000 adults in the state had a mental health condition. NAMI data shows that it is difficult for many to seek professional help due to financial limitations and a lack of mental health professionals within the vicinity of most Mississippians.