Visualizing the overlap between mental illness and substance abuse diagnoses

A collaborative Blue Cottage of CannonDesign team visualized the fragmentation and inefficiency of the healthcare system when it comes to treating individuals with both a mental illness diagnosis and a substance abuse disorder.

The majority of healthcare systems treat these two conditions as separate, isolated issues when the reality for these patients is far more complex. The interconnectedness of these diagnoses is often overlooked. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) notes that individuals with mental illness also consume roughly 38 percent of all alcohol, 44 percent of all cocaine, and over half of all opioid prescriptions in America. This stark overlap reveals just how intertwined mental health and substance use are, not just at the personal level, but across public health, social services, and community wellbeing.

Using Esri technology, a team of Blue Cottage data analysts and mental health consultants created a map showing this fragmentation as part of the 2025 Esri User Conference. Esri specializes in Geographic Information Software (GIS), which allows for mapping, spatial analysis, data visualization and more.

The map shows where service needs are the greatest, where services are most lacking and the cost of not treating these diagnoses together. It also highlights the many obstacles individuals with these diagnoses encounter on their treatment journey, from a social worker's ability to find a bed to insurance requirements to wait times for appointments.

This map was awarded first place in the “Map with a Message” category at the Esri User Conference, honoring maps that:

• Respond to a specific need or challenge
• Inform communities and support decision-making
• Use spatial data to clearly communicate meaning