Study: Rural Treasure Coast Youth Face Higher Anxiety, Depression Rates

Teenagers and children in rural and lower-income communities face disproportionately higher rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health symptoms compared to their urban peers, according to new national research that carries direct implications for families in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.

Geography and sociodemographic factors — including race, household income, and rural versus urban classification — were strongly associated with the likelihood a young person experienced clinically significant mental health symptoms, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study analyzed 2022 data on mental health symptom prevalence among U.S. youths. Disparities were most pronounced in communities with limited access to behavioral health providers, a pattern that mirrors conditions across much of the Treasure Coast, Liu J. et al. found in the American Journal of Public Health in 2023.

The study's lead author is affiliated with According to initial reports, and may be contacted through the American Journal of Public Health for comment.

St. Lucie County, which includes rural stretches west of Port St. Lucie and a substantial share of households below the federal poverty line, fits the demographic profile the study associates with elevated youth mental health risk. Indian River County's mental health provider shortage — the county has historically ranked poorly in Florida's access-to-care metrics — similarly aligns with the geographic vulnerabilities the researchers identified.

School districts in all three counties have expanded counselor staffing in recent years According to initial reports,, but mental health advocates have long argued that demand outpaces available services, particularly for students in Title I schools where economic stressors compound clinical risk factors.

Parents concerned about their child's mental health can contact the St. Lucie County Health Department, the Indian River County School District's behavioral health team, or Cleveland Clinic Martin North's outpatient behavioral services for referrals. The Florida Department of Health maintains a statewide children's mental health resource line at 1-800-662-HELP.

The study's authors recommend that policymakers prioritize geographic equity in mental health funding allocations — a finding that advocacy groups say should inform the next legislative session's behavioral health appropriations debate in Tallahassee.

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