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Millions of Americans live in mental health care deserts. Here’s where the gaps are worst.
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk Stacker , as published by KVIA ABC-7
· July 28, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: KVIA ABC-7 · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Stacker, as published by KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 28, 2026 Indexed here Jul 29, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Further details on this issue are available from KVIA ABC-7, including information on areas defined as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, which affect over 137 million Americans.
Mental health care deserts affect millions of Americans, with significant gaps in care. A notable issue is the delay in receiving treatment, with the average American waiting around 11 years after developing a mental health condition. This delay is attributed to various factors, including cost, difficulty in recognizing a problem, and stigma.
However, for many people, the main obstacle is the shortage of mental health providers in their area. Further details on this issue are available from KVIA ABC-7, including information on areas defined as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, which affect over 137 million Americans.
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About this story
As published by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local Published: July 28, 2026 Source: KVIA ABC-7 Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Mental health care deserts affect millions of Americans, with significant gaps in care. A notable issue is the delay in receiving treatment, with the average American waiting around 11 years after…
When was this published? This article was first published on July 28, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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