Boise State News January 26, 2021 Bronco Welcome, photo Patrick Sweeney The reasons to live in Idaho are many — a strong community spirit, dizzyingly beautiful landscapes and a proud heritage of free thought. Nonetheless, the state faces profound challenges. According to Mental Health America, Idaho ranks 48th out of 50 states and Washington D.C. when it comes to providing access to mental health services. And Idaho, like other states in the Intermountain West, contends with some of the highest suicide rates in the country. COVID-19 has only increased the challenges in Idaho and beyond. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that among young adults aged 18 to 24, one in four reported seriously considering suicide. An Active Minds survey in September found that 75% of students reported their mental health worsened during the pandemic.