A Message from MHAM Executive Director, Lisa Kelly:
‘The State of Mental Health in America‘ is an important annual report researched and produced by Mental Health America. The report tracks prevalence measures of mental health and substance use disorders in youth and adults as well as barriers to care. It’s an important tool to help individual states assess where improvement is being made and where additional advocacy is needed. (Read it now: MHA’s The State of Mental Health in America 2025).
MHAM has been tracking Indiana’s progress over the past 8 years through this report. Indiana has made significant improvement across a number of variables. In 2017, Indiana was ranked 45th out of 50 overall when all prevalence and barriers to care measures were considered. The 2025 report shows that Indiana’s overall ranking improved from 45th to 14th in the nation. This improvement should be celebrated. A number of federal and state initiatives in the past few years contributed to that improvement.
Medicaid Expansion with the Healthy Indiana Plan increased Medicaid access to over 600,000 Hoosiers. Investment in 988 call centers and Crisis Response Services increased access to emergency mental health services. Indiana’s inclusion as a pilot with Medicaid Demonstration Project is increasing capacities at Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC). Local advocacy was vital to bringing attention to how those initiatives would improve the health and well being of all Hoosiers. Progress made in the past few years will be jeopardized if Medicaid funding is cut. Additional advocacy may be needed locally and on the state level to maintain the progress Hoosiers have made.
“This pivotal annual report offers a comprehensive analysis of the latest national data and state-level rankings on mental health and well-being across the United States, providing crucial insights that can inform policies, enhance care, and support individuals facing mental health challenges,” said Valerie Sterns, Executive Vice President, Affiliate Network.
“In noteworthy coverage, CNN highlighted our findings in their article, “New York and Hawaii lead the US for mental health, report finds.” What to do if you don’t live there by Kristen Rogers.
“This year’s findings, now capturing national attention, have the potential to galvanize action and inspire communities nationwide to advocate for improved mental health resources and support systems. We encourage you to explore the wealth of information provided in our report and the links noted below, and amplify our message by sharing these resources across your various platforms.”
Join us on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 8:30-12:30 for our Fall Summit at the SJCPL Community Learning Center. This year, the Summit focuses on anticipated policy and funding changes that are already having an effect on local non profits and the communities they serve.
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info@mhamichiana.org
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