Why Rural Arizona Struggles to Attract and Keep Mental Health Professionals

Living in this world can take a lot out of you. Rising prices, war in the Middle East, domestic conflict, kids, family…I don’t need to tell you how tough life is right now.

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Finding a supportive mental health practitioner can make all the difference. But for many of us, it feels like a luxury. If you have a decent health insurance plan that covers visits with a therapist, finding someone to work with can be the next great hurdle, particularly if you live in one of Arizona’s more rural areas, like Cochise County.

Not everyone has good coverage, let alone access to qualified care.

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Where Cochise County Stands on Mental Health Care

Cochise County is not the worst Arizona county when it comes to access to mental health providers, but there are definitely significant challenges.

A study conducted last year found that there were about 746 residents per mental health provider in Cochise County. Other Arizona counties had far fewer providers relative to their populations.

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With all this sunshine and good weather, we should be golden, right? Not so, experts say. Residents reported an average of 4.5 poor mental health days per month. According to Stacker and an Ipsos poll, 53% of adults said mental health was their top health concern,

Federal workforce data show Cochise County is a designated mental health shortage area. Current estimates indicate the county would need additional mental health clinicians to fully address existing shortages. Plain Health Access gave Cochise County a peak shortage score of 25.0.

READ: Arizona City Was Named the Worst Place to Live in Arizona

Why Finding a Therapist Can Be Difficult

Cochise County isn’t the only place falling short in providing quality mental health care. Arizona faces statewide challenges, and reports show mental health shortages in every Arizona county.

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It’s even tougher in rural areas. Larger cities offer more services and opportunities, and healthcare workers, including mental health workers, often gravitate toward them. Salaries are typically higher, professional networks are larger, and supportive resources are more available.

As AxiomEHR points out, long travel distances, smaller patient pools, and limited housing options can make it harder to attract and retain providers.

How Arizona Ranks Nationally

If your mental health isn’t already taking a hit just reading this article, I have more bad news: Arizona continues to rank near the bottom nationally for mental health outcomes and access to care.

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According to the 2025 State of Mental Health report, Arizona ranked 50th out of 51 jurisdictions. The report included all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Arizona ranked slightly ahead of Nevada.

The report took into account the prevalence of mental illness, access to treatment, youth mental health, and workforce availability of mental health services.

READ MORE: Arizona Ranked 49th In Nation For Mental Health "Devastating"

The Top Five States for Mental Health

1. New York
2. Hawaii
3. New Jersey
4. Vermont
5. Iowa

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The Bottom Five States for Mental Health

1. Nevada (51st)
2. Arizona (50th)
3. Alabama (49th)
4. Idaho (48th)
5. Wyoming (47th)

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Free Help is Available Right Now: 988 Crisis Line

Access to mental health services is still a statewide issue, but in rural Arizona, the challenge is much greater.

Fortunately, free 24/7 help is available. If you or anyone you know is in crisis, don’t hesitate to call or text 988, the nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support and crisis counseling.