The Connecticut Parity Coalition has released The State of Mental Health in Connecticut 2025, a new report tracking five years of data from Mental Health America’s State of Mental Health in America series. The report provides a comprehensive look at how mental health needs and access to care have evolved in Connecticut since 2020.
Need is rising faster than access.
Roughly one in five adults in Connecticut experiences a mental illness each year—slightly higher than the national average—and more than 154,000 adults live with a serious mental illness. In 2024, more than 77,000 adults could not see a doctor due to cost, and residents were four times more likely to be forced out-of-network for mental health care than for primary care.
Youth data show an even sharper divide. Nearly one in five adolescents experienced a major depressive episode in 2024, and 62% of those youth received no mental health treatment—well above the national rate. While most young people attend preventive medical visits, thousands still lack insurance coverage for mental health, leaving families with nowhere to turn.
Governor Lamont has signed two landmark parity reform laws in recent years, strengthening Connecticut’s framework for access and accountability. Still, enforcement, affordability, and workforce capacity must improve to ensure every resident can access care when they need it.
