New Study Ranks America’s Best and Worst States for Men’s Mental Health

America’s Best and Worst States for Men’s Mental Health

Men across the US face vastly different levels of mental health support, healthcare access, and everyday pressures depending on where they live, a new study has found.

Manhattan Mental Health Counseling analyzed 48 states using indicators associated with men’s mental well-being. These included male suicide rates, depression and mental distress, access to mental health providers, health insurance coverage, unemployment, alcohol-related deaths, working hours, fitness facilities, state parks, and Google searches for “men’s therapy.”

A Closer Look at the Top 10

Massachusetts ranks first, combining one of the country’s lowest male suicide rates, at 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people, with the strongest provider availability in the study. The state has 161.23 mental health providers per 10,000 men, while just 4.6% of men are uninsured. It also records 18.38 searches for “men’s therapy” per 10,000 men, indicating comparatively strong interest in seeking support.

Nebraska ranks second, supported by a male unemployment rate of just 3.2% and 17.83 therapy-related searches per 10,000 men. Iowa follows in third, standing out for its access to outdoor recreation, with 0.33 state parks per 10,000 men. Men in Iowa also work an average of 38.4 hours a week, while its reported depression rate of 30.3% is lower than in many states included in the study.

Vermont ranks fourth and provides 121.28 mental health providers and 1.75 state parks per 10,000 men, the strongest access to parks in the ranking. It also records 28.11 searches for “men’s therapy” per 10,000 men. North Carolina completes the top five with a combination of relatively lower reported depression, strong therapy search interest and better provider access than many other Southern states.

Pennsylvania ranks sixth, with 62.53 mental health providers per 10,000 men and a male suicide rate of 21.9 per 100,000. Michigan follows, offering nearly 75 providers per 10,000 men and an average workweek of 37.8 hours. Connecticut ranks eighth and has 102.94 providers per 10,000 men, alongside 3.76 gyms and wellness facilities per 10,000 men, the highest availability among the top 10.

Maryland ranks ninth, recording a male suicide rate of 15.7 deaths per 100,000 and more than 81 mental health providers per 10,000 men. Missouri rounds out the top 10, supported by comparatively moderate results across depression, working hours, provider access and wellness facility availability.

A Closer Look at the Bottom of the Rankings

At the other end of the ranking, New Mexico, Nevada, Arkansas, South Dakota and Colorado make up the bottom five, reflecting a combination of higher suicide or depression rates, limited health coverage, longer working hours and reduced access to support.

New Mexico ranks last, with the highest male suicide rate in the study at 39.5 deaths per 100,000 men. Its uninsured rate is also among the highest at 17.5%, while men report elevated levels of depression and mental distress. Nevada ranks second from the bottom, with 17.1% of men uninsured and 37.6% reporting depression. Despite relatively high search interest in men’s therapy, provider availability remains well below levels recorded in top-ranked states.

Arkansas reports mental distress among 46% of men and an average workweek of 39.1 hours, along with limited access to fitness and wellness facilities. South Dakota combines a 39.5-hour average workweek with limited provider access and a high alcohol-related mortality indicator. Colorado ranks fifth from the bottom despite strong provider availability, as its male suicide rate reaches 31.6 deaths per 100,000 and its reported depression rate stands at 37.8%.

Steven Buchwald, mental health expert at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, said:

“Over the years, I’ve seen many men come into therapy only after they’ve been carrying stress, anger, anxiety, or sadness for far too long. They often say things like, ‘I should have been able to handle it,’ or ‘I didn’t want to burden anyone.’ That belief is exactly what keeps so many men stuck. I do think the stigma around men getting mental health support is beginning to crack, but it is not gone. More men are willing to talk about therapy now, especially younger men, but a lot of them still wait until their relationships, work, sleep, or health are already being affected before they reach out.”

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that men only need help when they are in crisis. In reality, therapy can be most useful long before that point. It can help men understand why they are irritable, why they feel numb, why they are drinking more, why they cannot switch off after work, or why they feel disconnected from people around them. I often tell men that looking after their mental health does not have to start with a big emotional conversation. It can start with being honest about one thing: ‘I’m not sleeping,’ ‘I’m overwhelmed,’ ‘I’m drinking more than usual,’ or ‘I don’t feel like myself.’ That small admission can be the first step toward getting proper support.”

“For men who are not ready for therapy yet, I would still encourage them to take their mental health seriously in everyday ways. Move your body, spend time outside, keep regular sleep, cut back on alcohol when you notice it becoming a coping tool, and make sure there is at least one person in your life you can be honest with. Men are often taught to measure strength by how much they can carry alone. From a mental health perspective, that can be dangerous. Real strength is noticing when something is wrong and doing something about it before it damages your health, your relationships, or your future.”

The Full Rankings

Methodology

The study ranked the best and worst states for men’s mental health based on the following metrics: male suicide deaths per 100,000 people (14%), percentage of men reporting frequent mental distress (14%), percentage of men with depression (14%), mental health providers per 10,000 men (11%), male uninsured rate (8%), male unemployment rate (8%), searches for “men’s therapy” per 10,000 men (8%), percentage of male population who die from excessive alcohol use (8%), average hours worked per week (7%), health clubs and wellness facilities per 10,000 men (4%), and state parks per 10,000 men (4%). Data points were weighted based on their impact on mental health and combined into a final score out of 100.

Sources: KFF, Health Equity Tracker, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, StatsAmerica, Google Trends, Drug Abuse Statistics, Census, Statista

This article was written for WHN by Manhattan Mental Health Counselling, a team of experienced, New York-based therapists that is dedicated to empowering you to achieve your mental health goals and live a more fulfilling life.

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.  

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