Study ranks North Carolina among worst states for mental health care access
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina tied for the sixth-worst access to mental health care in the country in 2025, according to a new study that examined the number of treatment facilities and how far residents have to travel to reach them.
The study, conducted by Autism 360 using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the U.S. Census Bureau, gave North Carolina an access score of 27.5 out of 100. Researchers found the state had 3.4 mental health facilities per 100,000 residents, with an average travel distance of 6.6 miles to the nearest facility.
The national averages were 4.1 facilities per 100,000 residents and a five-mile travel distance.
The study ranked states by averaging percentile scores for those two measures. It did not account for other factors that can affect access, such as cost, insurance coverage, appointment availability or the type of mental health care offered.
The results varied significantly across southeastern North Carolina.
New Hanover County received an access score of 64 out of 100. The study found 4.1 mental health facilities per 100,000 residents in the county and an average travel distance of 3.9 miles. New Hanover ranked 314th among the 984 U.S. counties included in the analysis.
Access was substantially lower in Brunswick and Columbus counties.
Brunswick County received a score of 12 out of 100 and ranked 921st nationally. Researchers calculated 1.7 facilities per 100,000 residents and an average distance of 10.2 miles to the nearest facility.
Columbus County ranked 911th with a score of 12.8. The study found two facilities per 100,000 residents and an average travel distance of 11.9 miles.
Robeson County had the highest score in North Carolina at 79.3, with 16.7 facilities per 100,000 residents and an average travel distance of 4.6 miles. Sampson County had the state’s lowest score among counties included in the analysis, at 7.6, with residents traveling an average of 17.7 miles to the nearest facility.
The researchers analyzed 13,919 mental health facilities nationwide. Counties with no mental health facility or populations below 50,000 were excluded from the county rankings, leaving 984 counties in the analysis.
