Virtual Therapy Kansas

Accessible Virtual Therapy for Kansas Residents

Kansas has shown significant improvement in mental health over recent years. The state moved from ranking 51st (last in the nation) to 22nd over a span of four years in a recent Mental Health America report. The most recent National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) study on Kansas indicates that just 6% of adult residents (143,000) live with a mental health condition, which is dramatically lower than most other states in the Kindbridge service area. Kansas State Legislature reports that improved access to care has been a key component to this growth in wellbeing, though they indicate that challenges remain with high rates of substance use. The state is also keeping an eye on behavioral health issues, particularly those that are emerging at a concerning pace – including process addictions relating to unhealthy use of technology. We explore this in the section below.

Using Technology to Overcome Tech Addictions

The Kansas Health Institute reports that while historically viewed as a rural, agricultural state, Kansas has positioned itself as a champion of innovation, ranking well for high-tech economic growth and digital workforce development. The state is rapidly advancing in terms of digital infrastructure, particularly with significant, recent investments in broadband, AI-ready data centers, and, in 2026, a strong focus on bridging the digital divide. This can be very beneficial from an economic perspective, but behavioral addictions connected to technology, including social media, gaming, and online gambling, are rising in Kansas. These issues are deeply affecting resident mental health, namely young adults and youth. Technology addictions, also referred to as digital dependencies, encompass the following:

• Problematic online gambling behavior: Research coming out of Kansas indicates that 2.7% of the state’s adult population are considered high risk for gambling disorder. More than half of those identified have had suicidal thoughts, and nearly 20% have attempted suicide.

• Problematic use of pornography: Prior to the arrival of pornography age verification laws in the state, PornHub reported that Kansas ranked 1st in the entire United States for online porn viewership, per capita.

• Problematic online trading behavior: National studies find that roughly 8% of online traders (including those in Kansas) have a problematic relationship with the activity. This issue has become more complex with the arrival of prediction markets in Kansas (and nationwide) which merge features of online sports betting with trading.

• Unhealthy video gaming: Regional (Kansas) and national data indicate that up to 10% of adolescent gamers exhibit signs of gaming disorder.

• Problematic online shopping behavior: Research shows that between 5% to 8% of the U.S. population (Kansas included) struggles with Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD).

• Unhealthy Use of Social Media: Unhealthy use of social media, especially among youth and young adults, has been a public health concern in Kansas and throughout the nation for well over a decade. Momentum is gaining in 2026, as META started the annum embroiled in a highly-publicized trial for allegedly designing their properties (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) to be “addictive”. Two years ago, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced his office filed a lawsuit against TikTok for the same.

• Unhealthy Use of Dating Apps: While there is no state-specific “addiction rate” data for dating apps in Kansas, the state mirrors national trends where roughly 10% to 15% of users exhibit signs of compulsive or addictive usage behaviors. Tinder is named as the most widely used dating app in Kansas for casual dating, particularly among the 18–24 demographic. Tinder, along with other Match Group-owned apps like Hinge, has faced (and continues to face) allegations that its platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive, prioritizing profit over helping users form meaningful relationships.

As a virtual counseling platform, Kindbridge leverages technology to treat all of the above. With a smartphone, tablet, or laptop you can connect to a counselor and get help to overcome unhealthy behavior in addition to cooccurring issues. Please keep reading.

Successfully Treating Cooccurring Issues

Various mental health challenges are comorbid with technology addictions. Whether you struggle with one or more of these as cooccurring issues or they are standalone concerns, Kindbridge will help.

Anxiety	ADHD
Bipolar Disorder	Chronic Anger + Irritability
Depression	OCD
PTSD	Substance Use Disorder