Oklahoma Nearly Misses Top Ten States With 'Worst Mental Health Care'

A new report from Forbes revealed Oklahomans are struggling with mental health.

For years, staff at Sunbeam Family Services said stigmas played a huge role in mental health, but now, there's a new way of thinking that our mental health should be treated the same way we treat our physical health.

"For some families and cultures admitting you need help is really not something you do,” Sunbeam therapist Charles Jackson said. “Normalizing that everybody has problems and normalizing that seeking help is okay is going to benefit everybody.”

The new data from Forbes shows in addition to being 12th worst for mental health care, Oklahoma has the 6th highest rate of mental illness in the United States.

Forbes said people in the state who are struggling, including a third of those with cognitive disabilities, couldn't get help because it's too expensive.

While more than half of all minors dealing with a major depressive episode, such as suicidal thoughts, do not have access to mental health care at all.

Staff at Sunbeam said access is another major issue in rural areas across Oklahoma. 

However, if you can see a therapist, your insurance company is required by law to cover mental healthcare services. 

For more information from Forbes, click here.