What percentage of people with serious mental illness are treated?
43.8% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2019 65.5% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2019 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016 The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years
What percentage of adults take medication for their mental health?
The percentage of adults who had taken medication for their mental health in the past 12 months was higher among those aged 45–64 (17.6%) and 65 and over (17.7%), compared with those aged 18–44 (13.6%).
Which Americans receive the most mental health treatment?
Women were more likely than men to have received any mental health treatment. Non-Hispanic white adults (23.0%) were more likely than non-Hispanic black (13.6%) and Hispanic (12.9%) adults to have received any mental health treatment.
How many women in the US receive mental health treatment?
Nearly one in four women received any mental health treatment (24.7%) in the past 12 months, compared with 13.4% of men ( Figure 2 ).
What percentage of people with mental health issues receive treatment?
One adult in eight (12.1%) receives mental health treatment, with 10.4% receiving medication and 3% receiving psychological therapy. The overlap within the statistics is due to 1.3% of those receiving treatment reporting receiving both medication and psychological therapy.
What percentage of mental health issues go untreated?
Mental Illness Policy Org estimates that close to half of all Americans with mental illness are not getting treatment. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 51 percent of adults in the U.S. with bipolar disorder and 40 percent with schizophrenia were untreated during a one-year study period.
Why is mental illness not taken seriously?
Perhaps because mental illnesses are simply not as concrete as physical illnesses, they are often not taken as seriously. Contrary to this popular belief, mental illnesses are actual diseases that must be treated as seriously as a physical disease, such as cancer or heart disease.
Can people get over mental illness without medication?
In most cases, a mental illness won't get better if you try to treat it on your own without professional care. But you can do some things for yourself that will build on your treatment plan: Stick to your treatment plan. Don't skip therapy sessions.
How many people have received mental health treatment in 2019?
In 2019, 19.2% of adults had received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 15.8% who had taken prescription medication for their mental health and 9.5% who received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional.
Which group of people was more likely to receive mental health treatment?
Women were more likely than men to have received any mental health treatment. Non-Hispanic white adults (23.0%) were more likely than non-Hispanic black (13.6%) and Hispanic (12.9%) adults to have received any mental health treatment.
How many people with mental illness do not receive mental health treatment?
About 3 in 5 people ( 63%) with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons. Less than half of people ( 45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails.
How much money does mental illness cost the economy?
Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year. 20.5% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition. 37% of adults incarcerated in the state and federal prison system have a diagnosed mental illness.
How many people in prison have mental illness?
About 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness ( 37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails). 66% of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison.
How many people have mental health issues in 2019?
3.8% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2019 (9.5 million people) Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group: Non-Hispanic Asian: 14.4%.
How many emergency department visits are there for mental health?
Mental illness and substance use disorders are involved in 1 out of every 8 emergency department visits by a U.S. adult (estimated 12 million visits) Mood disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization for all people in the U.S. under age 45 ( after excluding hospitalization relating to pregnancy and birth)
The Significance Of Mental Illness
Most people are curious about why people actually suffer from mental illness. By taking a step back and examining the science of mental illness you will be able to unlock the mystery behind mental illness and how it manifests itself.
Statistics
Although mental illness affects 1 in every 4 adults, only 36% of people with a mental disorder actually receive treatment. Approximately 1 in every 2 people diagnosed as having a mental disorder may suffer from multiple disorders. Let’s take a look at the various types of mental disorders.
Effects on the Brain
What actually happens in the brain of someone suffering from mental illness? Studies have shown that there is in fact a chemical imbalance which is responsible for the development of many mental disorders.
Chemical Effects on Mental Disorders
What chemicals are linked to mental disorders? Several different chemicals have been associated with mental disorders including acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, gaba (gamma-amino butyric acid, norepinephrine, adrenaline and epinephrine. Levels of these chemicals are not properly balanced in people with mental disorders.
Disorders and Mental Illness
Let’s examine what actually takes place in the body of someone who suffers from anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. Anxiety disorders primarily affect your nerve impulses which causes twitching, lightheadedness, nausea, an accelerated heartbeat, as well as weight loss and weight gain.
Depression
Depression is accompanied by headaches, insomnia, muscle aches, joint pain, changes in appetite, back pain, and chest pain. Schizophrenia causes a person to have blank, vacant facial expressions in addition to involuntary movement of the tongue and mouth.
Adult Ranking 2022
States that are ranked 1-10 have lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for adults. States that are ranked 39-51 indicate that adults have higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care.
Adult Prevalence of Mental Illness (AMI) 2022
19.86% of adults are experiencing a mental illness. Equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans.
Adult with Substance Use Disorder 2022
7.74% of adults in America reported having a substance use disorder in the past year.
Adults with Serious Thoughts of Suicide 2022
The percentage of adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide is 4.58%. The estimated number of adults with serious suicidal thoughts is over 11.4 million - an increase of 664,000 people from last year's data set.
Adults with Ami Who Are Uninsured 2022
11.1% (over 5.5 million) of adults with a mental illness remain uninsured.
Adults with Ami Reporting Unmet Need 2022
Almost a quarter (24.7%) of all adults with a mental illness reported that they were not able to receive the treatment they needed. This number has not declined since 2011.
Adults with Disability Who Could Not See a Doctor Due to Costs 2022
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 12% of people in the U.S. had a cognitive disability, even when adjusted for age. The percentage of people with cognitive disability ranged from 8.9% in some states to 19.6%.
How many people with mental illness are not able to receive treatment?
Almost a quarter (22.3%) of all adults with a mental illness reported that they were not able to receive the treatment they needed. This number has not declined since 2011.
How many people with depression do not receive mental health care?
59% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Youth experiencing MDE continue to go untreated. Even among the states with greatest access for youth, almost 50% of youth are still not receiving the mental health services they need.
How many people will be uninsured in 2020?
Adults with AMI who are Uninsured 2020. 10.3% (over 4.7 million) of adults with a mental illness remain uninsured. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the U.S. continues to see a decline in Americans who are uninsured.
What percentage of people have cognitive disabilities?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 11.4% of people in the United States had a cognitive disability, even when adjusted for age. 1 The percentage of people with cognitive disability ranged from 7.8 percent in some states to 19.1 percent. A 2017 study.
Which states have not expanded Medicaid?
Thirty-nine states saw a reduction in Adults with AMI who are uninsured. The largest reductions were seen in Louisiana (5.3%), New York (4.7%), Iowa (4.6%) and Arkansas (4.2%). Each of the bottom 17 states, with the exception of Louisiana, are states that have not expanded Medicaid.
What are the barriers to not receiving treatment?
Individuals seeking treatment but still not receiving needed services face the same barriers that contribute to the number of individuals not receiving treatment: No insurance or limited coverage of services. Shortfall in psychiatrists, and an overall undersized mental health workforce.
Key Findings
Women Were More Likely Than Men to Have Received Any Mental Health Treatment.
- Nearly one in four women received any mental health treatment (24.7%) in the past 12 months, compared with 13.4% of men (Figure 2).
- Women were more likely than men to have taken medication for their mental health (20.6% and 10.7%, respectively) and to have received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional (11.7%...
Summary
- In 2019, 19.2% of U.S. adults received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 15.8% who had taken prescription medication for their mental health and 9.5% who had received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional. While the percentage of adults who had taken medication for their mental health increased with age,...
Definitions
- Any mental health treatment: A composite measure of adults who reported having taken medication for their mental health, received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional, or both in the past 12 months. Race and Hispanic origin: Adults categorized as Hispanic may be of any race or combination of races. Adults categorized as non-Hispanic white …
Data Source and Methods
- Data from the 2019 NHIS were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are conducted in respondents’ homes, but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted over the teleph…
About The Authors
- Emily P. Terlizzi and Benjamin Zablotsky are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.
References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Healthexternal...
- American Psychiatric Association. DSM–IV: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC. 1994.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Healthexternal...
- American Psychiatric Association. DSM–IV: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC. 1994.
- Eaton NR, Keyes KM, Krueger RF, Balsis S, Skodol AE, Markon KE, et al. An invariant dimensional liability model of gender differences in mental disorder prevalence: Evidence from a national sample....
- MacKenzie CS, Gekoski WL, Knox VJ. Age, gender, and the underutilization of mental health services: The influence of help-seeking attitudes. Aging Ment Health 10(6):574–82. 2006.
Suggested Citation
- Terlizzi EP, Zablotsky B. Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 380. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.
The Significance of Mental Illness
Statistics
- Although mental illness affects 1 in every 4 adults, only 36% of people with a mental disorder actually receive treatment. Approximately 1 in every 2 people diagnosed as having a mental disorder may suffer from multiple disorders. Let’s take a look at the various types of mental disorders. Mood disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disord...
Effects on The Brain
- What actually happens in the brain of someone suffering from mental illness? Studies have shown that there is in fact a chemical imbalance which is responsible for the development of many mental disorders. Scientists believe that this chemical imbalance affects the brains ability to transmit messages from one neuron to another neuron therefore affecting the brains ability to f…
Chemical Effects on Mental Disorders
- What chemicals are linked to mental disorders? Several different chemicals have been associated with mental disorders including acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, gaba (gamma-amino butyric acid, norepinephrine, adrenaline and epinephrine. Levels of these chemicals are not properly balanced in people with mental disorders. Too much acetylcholine causes depression and too lit…
Disorders and Mental Illness
- Let’s examine what actually takes place in the body of someone who suffers from anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. Anxiety disorders primarily affect your nerve impulses which causes twitching, lightheadedness, nausea, an accelerated heartbeat, as well as weight loss and weight gain. A burning sensation on the face, neck, ears, shoulders, or scalp is also commo…
Depression
- Depression is accompanied by headaches, insomnia, muscle aches, joint pain, changes in appetite, back pain, and chest pain. Schizophrenia causes a person to have blank, vacant facial expressions in addition to involuntary movement of the tongue and mouth. People with schizophrenia suffer from insomnia or excessive sleeping, inaccurate motor skills, extremely ac…