By The Numbers
719,000
Number of K-12 Students (2022 Projection)i
54,000
34,000
Children with major depression who do not receive treatmentiii
No data
Ratio of School Psychologists to Students
(Recommended Ratio 1:500)
1:8,615
Ratio of School Social Workers to Students
(Recommended Ratio 1:250)
1:418
Ratio of School Counselors to Students
(Recommended Ratio 1:250)
Take Action
in Alabama
There is a national emergency in children’s mental health. Children and youth are experiencing soaring rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality.
Children and youth are experiencing soaring rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality. Mental health challenges can affect success at school and in life, yet few students get the help they need to thrive.
The Hopeful Futures Campaign, a coalition of national organizations, is committed to ensuring that every student has access to effective and supportive school mental health care. The campaign’s school mental health report cards highlight accomplishments and provide important action steps to help address the children’s mental health crisis in every state.
At A Glance: State School Mental Health Policies
Little or no progress achieved
Some progress achieved
Meaningful progress achieved
Substantial progress achieved
| HOW ALABAMA COMPARES State Rankings from Mental Health America iv | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Overall State Rank for Youth Mental Health | 28 | 20 | 24 | 20 |
| Youth with At Least One Major Depressive Episode in the Past Year | 33,000 / 8.69% | 45,000 / 11.90% | 49,000/ 13.13% | 54,000 / 14.51% |
| Youth with Major Depressive Episodes in the Past Year Who Did Not Receive Treatment | Not Asked | 26,000 / 67.5% | 31,000 / 69.7% | 34,000 / 66.8% |
| Youth with Major Severe Depressive Episodes in the Past Year | Not Asked | 29,000 / 8.1% | 23,000 / 6.4% | 27,000 / 7.50% |
| Youth with Severe Major Depressive Episodes Who Received Some Consistent Treatment | Not Asked | 8,000 / 31.30% | 6,000 / 25.9% | 8,000/31.30% |
| Students Identified with Emotional Disturbance for an Individualized Education Program | Not Asked | 7,000 / 5.9% | 1,406 / 2.09% | 1,420 / 2.13% |
| Youth with Private Insurance That Did Not Cover Mental or Emotional Problems | 1,322 / 1.95% | 1,365 / 2.02% | 7,000 / 5.9% | 16,000 / 12.50% |
| Youth with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year | 22,000 / 5.60% | 15,000 / 3.96% | 14,000 / 3.63% | 12,000 / 3.19% |
ii. The state of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.
iii. The state of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.
iv. The state of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.