Data highlight
Oklahoma ranks 38 (of 50) for rates of frequent mental distress among women, at 27%. Hawaii ranks the lowest at 18%, and Tennessee ranks the highest at 33%.
Oklahoma ranks 38 (of 50) for rates of frequent mental distress among women, at 27%. Hawaii ranks the lowest at 18%, and Tennessee ranks the highest at 33%.
Percent of women in 2023 who reported poor mental health 14+ days in the past month.
Source: America’s Health Rankings
People who are frequently mentally distressed experience recurring emotional turmoil, anxiety, or mental unease. Those suffering this consistently are more likely to have chronic and/or severe mental health issues.
Mental health is essential to women’s overall health and well-being.
Nationally, women are 1.5x more likely to report frequent mental distress (FMD) than men. There is a strong correlation between the 14 day distress mark and developing depressive or anxiety disorders, both of which women are more likely to have compared to their male counterparts (see Depression and Anxiety).
Additionally, women with prolonged mental distress are at heightened risk for suicide. Oklahoma’s suicide rate has consistently exceeded the national average, and women and young girls have higher rates of emergency room visits as a result of attempts (see Teen Suicide Rate). Reducing the prevalence of FMD is an essential step to ending this trend and improving mental health outcomes for women in the Sooner state.
Women with prolonged mental distress are more likely to cope with risky health behaviors like smoking and substance use. Unfortunately, this often worsens mental health and can lead to an addictive negative feedback loop. Further, prolonged distress has been known to predispose individuals to chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
The prevalence of FMD is higher among some groups than others. Women who are: under 25 years old; multiracial or indigenous,; disabled, uninsured, veterans, identify as LGBTQ+, have low educational attainment, live in rural areas, or live in lower-income households are all more likely to report higher rates of frequent mental distress and poor mental health.
Despite these alarming trends, mental health screening and care remains hard to come by. Nationally, more than half of women reporting fair or poor mental health in 2024 did not obtain mental health services. Common barriers for women include difficulty finding a provider, being unable to take time off of work or pause caregiving responsibilities, and cost of treatment.
Metrics for measuring frequent mental distress often rely on self-reported data, leading to several limitations in studies on frequent mental distress and other mental health problems. Respondents may fail to accurately recall the number of days they experience poor mental health or they may over/under estimate the severity of their symptoms, creating an incomplete picture of the true number of individuals in crisis.
CDC studies rates of FMD among adult populations through their annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, which relies on self reporting via questionnaire responses. Thus, it’s important to keep in mind that data on FMD might be slightly over or underestimated nationally and statewide.
Rates of mental distress and poor mental health skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase was driven by a multitude of simultaneous stressors including social isolation, changes in education and employment, and grief from loss or lack of emotional support. Rates of FMD were found to be higher among women than men, both pre-pandemic (2018) and during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
This issue brief was written by Metriarch staff as part of our Data Lookbook. Peer review was provided by Whitney Cipolla with Healthy Minds Policy Initiative.
Suggested citation
Metriarch. “Mental Health,” Data Lookbook (2025). URL: metriarchok.org/frequent-mental-distress.
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