High Mental Illness Rates Persist Despite Abundant Nature
- Iowa and Wyoming, with only 8.43% and 18.42% of their land covered by forests, respectively, both report one of the highest mental illness rates.
- Maine, with nearly 90% forest coverage, still has over 24% of its population experiencing mental health challenges, which is above the national average.
- Delaware, with only 27.26% of its land covered by forests reports 20.93%, which is less than the national average.
Eco Lodges Anywhere compared data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Report for Fiscal Year 2016 and data from the Mental Health America’s 2024 State of Mental Health in America report.
Commenting on the findings, Emese Maczko, founder of Eco Lodges Anywhere, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There are almost 300 scientific studies on ScienceDirect showing the emotional, restorative, and vitalizing effects of spending time in nature, in particular forests. But these findings again remind us that mental health is multifaceted. Access to green spaces can certainly be a part of the solution, but we also need to ensure that people have access to effective healthcare and strong community support.”
On average, about 42.92% of the U.S. is covered in forests, while 23.08% of people nationwide experience mental health challenges. Does more access to natural spaces help reduce mental health issues, or is there more to the story?
Top 5 Most Forested States
| State | % of people having any type of mental illness | # of people having any type of mental illness | % of people compared to national total | % of forested area | |
| 1 | Maine | 24.07 | 268,000 | 0.46% | 89.46% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 23.06 | 259,000 | 0.44% | 84.32% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 26.28 | 367,000 | 0.62% | 79.01% |
| 4 | Vermont | 26.8 | 141,000 | 0.24% | 77.81% |
| 5 | Alabama | 24.09 | 931,000 | 1.58% | 70.57% |
Except for New Hampshire, the top forested States have higher rate of mental illness than the national average.
Maine has 89.46% forest coverage, but 24.07% of residents suffer from mental health issues, indicating that abundant green space does not always correlate with better mental health.
New Hampshire, with 84.32% forested land, has a mental illness rate of 23.06%, slightly below the national average.
West Virginia, covered by 79.01% forests, has one of the highest mental illness rates at 26.28%, highlighting that extensive forest coverage does not prevent mental health challenges.
Vermont, featuring 77.81% forest coverage, reports a mental illness rate of 26.8%, showing that high forested areas don’t always correlate with lower mental health issues.
Alabama, with 70.57% forest coverage, reports a mental health issue rate of 24.09%, suggesting people may not be utilising forest therapy.
5 Least Forested States
| State | % of people having any type of mental illness | # of people having any type of mental illness | % of people compared to national total | % of forested area | |
| 51 | North Dakota | 25.95 | 150,000 | 0.25% | 1.72% |
| 50 | Nebraska | 25.71 | 376,000 | 0.64% | 3.20% |
| 49 | South Dakota | 24.89 | 166,000 | 0.28% | 3.93% |
| 48 | Kansas | 24.41 | 532,000 | 0.90% | 4.78% |
| 47 | Iowa | 26.71 | 649,000 | 1.10% | 8.43% |
All 5 least forested States has higher rate of mental illness than the national average.
North Dakota, with only 1.72% of its land forested, still reports a high rate of mental illness at 25.95%, suggesting a lack of green space is not the only factor.
Nebraska, with only 3.20% forest coverage, has a mental illness rate of 25.71%, pointing towards the need for interventions beyond increasing green spaces.
South Dakota, with 3.93% forest coverage, faces a significant mental health rate of 24.89%, pointing towards lack of opportunities to relax in green spaces.
Kansas, with just 4.78% forest coverage, has a mental illness rate of 24.41%, showing that states with low forest coverage may indeed struggle with mental health.
Iowa has only 8.43% forested area, yet a high rate of 26.71% of residents face mental health issues, suggesting that low forest coverage may be one factor.
Top 5 States with Highest Mental Illness Rates
| State | % of people having any type of mental illness | # of people having any type of mental illness | % of people compared to national total | % of forested area | |
| 51 | Utah | 29.19 | 700,000 | 1.19% | 34.48% |
| 50 | Idaho | 28.02 | 402,000 | 0.68% | 40.55% |
| 49 | Oregon | 27.48 | 922,000 | 1.57% | 48.51% |
| 48 | Wyoming | 27.44 | 121,000 | 0.21% | 18.42% |
| 47 | Washington | 27.14 | 1,629,000 | 2.77% | 52.74% |
Washington has only 52.74% forested area, yet a high rate of 27.14% of residents face mental health issues, suggesting that high forest coverage may not solve everything.
Oregon has 48.51% forested area and a high mental illness rate of 27.48%, indicating other factors influence mental health beyond forest access.
Wyoming features 18.42% forest coverage and a significant mental health challenge, with 27.44% of residents experiencing mental illness.
Idaho, covered by 40.55% forests, has one of the highest mental illness rates at 28.02%, highlighting that extensive forest coverage does not prevent mental health challenges.
Utah, with 34.48% forested area, has one of the highest mental illness rates at 29.19%, suggesting significant factors beyond forest coverage influence these rates.
Top 5 States with Lowest Mental Illness Rates
| State | % of people having any type of mental illness | # of people having any type of mental illness | % of people compared to national total | % of forested area | |
| 1 | New Jersey | 19.38 | 1,389,000 | 2.36% | 41.72% |
| 2 | Florida | 20.45 | 3,563,000 | 6.05% | 50.68% |
| 3 | Delaware | 20.93 | 165,000 | 0.28% | 27.26% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 21.05 | 599,000 | 1.02% | 55.24% |
| 5 | New York | 21.11 | 3,273,000 | 5.56% | 62.88% |
New Jersey, with 41.72% forest coverage, reports a relatively low rate of 19.38% of residents with mental health issues, among the lowest in the nation.
Florida, with 50.68% forested land, has a mental illness rate of 20.45%, indicating substantial natural space, if used, may lead to moderate rates.
Delaware, despite only 27.26% of its land forested, reports a mental illness rate of 20.93%, which is below the national average.
Connecticut, featuring 55.24% forested land, shows a mental illness rate of 21.05%, lower compared to many other states with higher forest coverage.
New York, with 62.88% forest coverage, reports a mental health issue rate of 21.11%, suggesting access to nature may give better outcomes.
ENDS
Sources:
United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Report for Fiscal Year 2016 and Mental Health America’s 2024 State of Mental Health in America report.
Methodology:
Eco Lodges Anywhere used two primary data source for the analysis: the percentage of state land covered by forests and the percentage of residents experiencing mental illness. Data was sourced data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Report for Fiscal Year 2016 and data from the Mental Health America’s 2024 State of Mental Health in America report.
If you use this story, please credit and link to https://ecolodgesanywhere.com a linked credit allows us to keep supplying you with future content that you may find helpful.
| State | % of people having any type of mental illness | # of people having any type of mental illness | % of people compared to national total | % of forested area | |
| 1 | New Jersey | 19.38 | 1,389,000 | 2.36% | 41.72% |
| 2 | Florida | 20.45 | 3,563,000 | 6.05% | 50.68% |
| 3 | Delaware | 20.93 | 165,000 | 0.28% | 27.26% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 21.05 | 599,000 | 1.02% | 55.24% |
| 5 | New York | 21.11 | 3,273,000 | 5.56% | 62.88% |
| 6 | Hawaii | 21.47 | 234,000 | 0.40% | 42.53% |
| 7 | Texas | 21.94 | 4,797,000 | 8.15% | 37.33% |
| 8 | Illinois | 22.01 | 2,136,000 | 3.63% | 13.64% |
| 9 | Mississippi | 22.16 | 487,000 | 0.83% | 65.07% |
| 10 | California | 22.19 | 6,665,000 | 11.32% | 32.71% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 22.19 | 1,804,000 | 3.06% | 59.73% |
| 12 | Virginia | 22.28 | 1,470,000 | 2.50% | 62.93% |
| 13 | South Carolina | 22.35 | 902,000 | 1.53% | 68.19% |
| 14 | Maryland | 22.37 | 1,056,000 | 1.79% | 39.36% |
| 15 | Georgia | 22.52 | 1,836,000 | 3.12% | 67.28% |
| 16 | Michigan | 22.89 | 1,789,000 | 3.04% | 55.62% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 23.06 | 259,000 | 0.44% | 84.32% |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 23.18 | 1,292,000 | 2.19% | 60.57% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 23.18 | 2,352,000 | 4.00% | 58.60% |
| 20 | Arizona | 23.26 | 1,308,000 | 2.22% | 25.64% |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 23.66 | 1,082,000 | 1.84% | 48.98% |
| 22 | Kentucky | 23.77 | 813,000 | 1.38% | 49.35% |
| 23 | Arkansas | 23.86 | 546,000 | 0.93% | 56.31% |
| 24 | Maine | 24.07 | 268,000 | 0.46% | 89.46% |
| 25 | Alabama | 24.09 | 931,000 | 1.58% | 70.57% |
| 26 | Louisiana | 24.34 | 838,000 | 1.42% | 53.20% |
| 27 | Kansas | 24.41 | 532,000 | 0.90% | 4.78% |
| 28 | Indiana | 24.44 | 1,260,000 | 2.14% | 21.06% |
| 29 | Ohio | 24.52 | 2,214,000 | 3.76% | 30.92% |
| 30 | Nevada | 24.65 | 600,000 | 1.02% | 15.89% |
| 31 | Rhode Island | 24.67 | 216,000 | 0.37% | 54.38% |
| 32 | Minnesota | 24.74 | 1,077,000 | 1.83% | 34.08% |
| 33 | South Dakota | 24.89 | 166,000 | 0.28% | 3.93% |
| 34 | Alaska | 24.96 | 132,000 | 0.22% | 35.16% |
| 35 | Tennessee | 25.47 | 1,370,000 | 2.33% | 52.83% |
| 36 | New Mexico | 25.67 | 414,000 | 0.70% | 31.99% |
| 37 | Nebraska | 25.71 | 376,000 | 0.64% | 3.20% |
| 38 | Oklahoma | 25.88 | 768,000 | 1.30% | 28.80% |
| 39 | North Dakota | 25.95 | 150,000 | 0.25% | 1.72% |
| 40 | West Virginia | 26.28 | 367,000 | 0.62% | 79.01% |
| 41 | Colorado | 26.3 | 1,186,000 | 2.01% | 34.42% |
| 42 | Missouri | 26.5 | 1,248,000 | 2.12% | 35.16% |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 26.63 | 143,000 | 0.24% | 33.90% |
| 44 | Iowa | 26.71 | 649,000 | 1.10% | 8.43% |
| 45 | Vermont | 26.8 | 141,000 | 0.24% | 77.81% |
| 46 | Montana | 27.12 | 234,000 | 0.40% | 27.45% |
| 47 | Washington | 27.14 | 1,629,000 | 2.77% | 52.74% |
| 48 | Wyoming | 27.44 | 121,000 | 0.21% | 18.42% |
| 49 | Oregon | 27.48 | 922,000 | 1.57% | 48.51% |
| 50 | Idaho | 28.02 | 402,000 | 0.68% | 40.55% |
| 51 | Utah | 29.19 | 700,000 | 1.19% | 34.48% |
| National | 23.08 | 58,867,000 | 100.00% | 42.92% |
