The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) may designate as a mental health HPSA (health professional shortage area) any population group, facility, or geographic area where resident access to mental health care falls below certain standards.  This HRSA designation may be based on the size of the HPSA's population relative to either (a) the number of psychiatrists, or (b) the combined number of psychiatrists and certain other mental health care practitioners, that serve the setting or community. Most HRSA mental health care shortage designations are based currently on population size relative to the number of psychiatrists serving the HPSA.  As of December 31, 2022, more than 158.4 million Americans lived in a mental health care shortage area according to HRSA data.

Home to 51.8% of the U.S. population who live in mental health shortage areas, the following are the ten states with the most people living in mental health care shortage areas based on an examination of December 31, 2022, HRSA data:

Ten States with the Most People Living in Mental Health Care Shortage Areas

State	(1) HPSAs	(2) Population	(3) Shortage
TX	439	15,770,751	702
CA	608	13,121,872	673
IL	223	9,841,944	425
FL	237	9,144,127	535
IN	102	6,695,685	286
NY	205	6,427,644	413
GA	94	6,040,851	217
MI	257	5,236,262	226
AL	75	4,884,042	241
OH	139	4,882,049	237
Top 10	2,379	82,045,227	3,955
U.S.	6,599	158,413,168	7,957
% of U.S.	36.1%	51.8%	49.7%

(1) Designated Geographic, Population Group, and Facility HPSAs with a mental health care shortage

(2) Population of designated HPSAs

(3) Mental Health Care practitioners needed to remove HPSA Designation

Source:  Designated HPSA Quarterly Summary, 12/31/22 (HRSA)