Last year, Kansas ranked last in providing access to mental health resources; in this year’s overall report from Mental Health America, Kansas jumped up to No. 22. 

Francesca Onofrio | @francescaonofrio.news

Despite this, the report indicated an increase in depression and suicidal ideation among young people in the state.

Chris Corbett, director of KU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), shared more about what the state can do to continue their rise. 

“Particularly in a state like Kansas, right, it is a matter of having access to clinicians. It’s having access to increases in health insurance that are covering mental health,” Corbett said. “And then it’s just I think doing everything that we can to ensure that the community is looking out to take care of each other.” 

However, Kansas ranked No. 35 on the access to care ranking, including access to insurance, treatment, special education and more. The CAPS program is the only dedicated mental health service provided by the University.

Corbett also shared how students can access care on campus. 

“An obvious one would be reaching out to CAPS … that can happen by calling the department, looking on our website at CAPS.KU.EDU,” Corbett said. 

“Or if you just come in, we have daily drop-in times available that a student can come any time 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is our preferred time, but were open 8 to 5. So, if a student comes in were going to make sure they get access to some resources.”

Data in this year’s report from Mental Health America was collected in 2022, coming off of the coattails of the pandemic.

For more information and a full list of resources, visit www.caps.ku.edu.