Statistics in S.D. related to Mental Health

Prevalence & Conditions

Adults: Over 112,000 adults in SD have a mental health condition; nearly 1 in 4 adults experienced mental illness in 2021, with young adults (18-25) seeing almost 1 in 3 affected.

Youth: More South Dakotan youth (ages 3-17) experience depression and anxiety compared to the U.S. average.

Anxiety/Depression: In 2021, over 29% of SD adults reported anxiety or depression symptoms, with nearly 17% unable to get needed therapy

Alcohol: SD has the 4th highest rate of alcohol-related deaths nationally.

Misuse: High rates of prescription drug misuse and weekly nicotine/marijuana use are seen among youth

Access to Care

Provider Shortages: Over 448,000 South Dakotans live in areas with insufficient mental health professionals, notes the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Barriers: Cost is a major barrier, with many forced out-of-network, making care less affordable

South Dakota faces a shortage of mental health providers, with around 254 providers per 100,000 people as of 2024, below the national average, and struggles with recruitment, leading to long wait times, especially for specialized care like psychiatric services, though recent data shows some improvements in overall vacancies and reduced wait times for some services by mid-2025. The state has fewer psychiatrists than desired, and while some services are improving, significant gaps remain, particularly in rural areas and for specific demographics like American Indians, where suicide is a leading cause of death

Suicide

Suicide is a top cause of death, especially for young adults (20-39) and American Indians (5th leading cause).

Trends: A 10% increase in suicides occurred from 2023 to 2024, with firearms being involved in half of deaths from 2020-2023

Suicide was the state’s tenth leading cause of death, the leading cause of death for individuals aged 10-29 years, and the seventh leading cause of death among American Indians. This upward swing in suicide rates combined with a clear shortage of mental health professionals highlights the need for increased mental health resources.

South Dakota State Health Assessment 2023