Georgia’s invisible epidemic: poor and mentally ill
When considering how Georgia cares for its roughly 1.4 million mentally ill residents, think about these numbers:
Mental health professionals
Georgia
One for every 1,440 people
Massachusetts
One for every 248 people
Per capita spending by mental health agencies
- Maine: $345
- Alaska: $341
- District of Columbia: $307
- Vermont: $292
- Georgia: $59
- National average: $120
Percentage receiving care
Vermont
% of mentally ill residents receiving treatment:
57.1% (54,000)
Rank: No.1
Georgia
% of mentally ill residents receiving treatment:
34.8% (424,000)
Rank: No.48
Tens of thousands of people in Georgia remain uninsured and suffer from untreated mental illnesses — such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia — so severe they can't function in day-to-day life.
Find out why Georgia ranks so low when it comes to mental health treatment. See our special presentation at MyAJC.com and view a video of a woman whose son suffered from severe depression.
