Research shows that mental illnesses are common in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people each year. Estimates suggest that only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment.
Full Answer
What percentage of the US population is treated for mental illness?
In 2020, among the 14.2 million adults with SMI, 9.1 million (64.5%) received mental health treatment in the past year. More females with SMI (69.9%) received mental health treatment than males with SMI (54.9%).
How common is mental health treatment among older adults?
Mental Health Care Matters 46.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2020 64.5% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2020 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?
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.
How many women in the US receive mental health treatment?
Overall 44.8% of US adults aged 18 or older with Any Mental Illness received mental health services in the previous 12 months. Gender Highest incidence – females at 49.7% Lowest incidence – males at 36.8% Difference between high and low – 35.0 % Age Highest incidence – 50 + at 47.2% Lowest incidence – 18 to 25 at 38.9%
What percentage of people receive mental health treatment?
In 2020, 20.3% of U.S. adults received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 16.5% who had taken prescription medication for their mental health and 10.1% who had received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional.
What percentage of Americans need mental health treatment?
The percentage of adults with a mental illness who report unmet need for treatment has increased every year since 2011. In 2019, 24.7% of adults with a mental illness report an unmet need for treatment.
How many Americans are treated for mental health?
In 2020, among the 52.9 million adults with AMI, 24.3 million (46.2%) received mental health services in the past year....Figure 2.DemographicPercentOverall46.2SexFemale51.2Male37.4Age18-2542.16 more rows
What percentage of the US has mental health issues 2020?
Adult Prevalence of Mental Illness - Adults with Any Mental Illness (AMI) 2020. 18.57% of adults are experiencing a mental health illness, equivalent to 45 million Americans. 4.38% are experiencing a severe mental health illness.
Who is more prone to mental illness?
The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) found that, generally, more men than women report any mental illness: 21.2 percent of men compared to 14.8 percent of women report mental illness in general. 4 However, certain conditions, like mood disorders, are more likely to affect women than men.Aug 27, 2021
What population is most affected by mental illness?
Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:Non-Hispanic Asian: 13.9%Non-Hispanic white: 22.6%Non-Hispanic black or African-American: 17.3%Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 18.7%Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 35.8%More items...
What percentage of US adults are estimated to have a mental disorder in their lifetime?
In the United States, almost half of adults (46.4 percent) will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. 5 percent of adults (18 or older) experience a mental illness in any one year, equivalent to 43.8 million people.Feb 6, 2019
Why is mental health such a big issue now?
Mental health conditions are increasing worldwide. Mainly because of demographic changes, there has been a 13% rise in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the last decade (to 2017). Mental health conditions now cause 1 in 5 years lived with disability.
What percentage of the world suffers from mental illness?
Related entries:DisorderShare of global population with disorder (2017) [difference across countries]Number of people with the disorder (2017)Any mental health disorder10.7%792 millionDepression3.4% [2-6%]264 millionAnxiety disorders3.8% [2.5-7%]284 millionBipolar disorder0.6% [0.3-1.2%]46 million5 more rows
What is the number 1 mental illness?
The most common are anxiety disorders major depression and bipolar disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, this disorder is highly treatable, but only around 37 percent of those affected actually receive treatment. It is common to be diagnosed with both anxiety and depression.Nov 18, 2021
What is the most common mental illness in America?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.Sep 19, 2021
What age group has the most mental health issues?
We take a life-course approach to mental health because good mental health begins in infancy.20% of adolescents may experience a mental health problem in any given year. ... 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.More items...
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.
The percentage of adults who had received any mental health treatment varied by age group
In 2020, 20.3% of adults had received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 16.5% who had taken medication for their mental health, and 10.1% who received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional ( Figure 1 ).
Women were more likely than men to have received any mental health treatment
A little over one in four women (25.6%) received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, compared with 14.6% of men ( Figure 2 ).
The percentage who had received any mental health treatment was highest among non-Hispanic white adults
Non-Hispanic white adults were most likely to have received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months (24.4%), followed by non-Hispanic black (15.3%), Hispanic (12.6%), and non-Hispanic Asian (7.7%) adults ( Figure 3 ).
The percentage of adults who had received mental health treatment varied by urbanization level
The percentage of adults who had received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months increased as the place of residence became more rural, from 19.3% among those living in large metropolitan areas to 21.7% among those living in nonmetropolitan areas ( Figure 4 ).
Summary
In 2020, 20.3% of U.S. adults received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 16.5% who had taken prescription medication for their mental health and 10.1% who had received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional.
Definitions
Any mental health treatment, past 12 months: 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.
Data source and methods
Data from the 2020 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).
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 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 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 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)
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%.
Is depression a cardiovascular disease?
People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.
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.
What is NHIS survey?
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 telephone. For more information about NHIS, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.
What is the leading cause of death for people over the age of 24?
Clinical depression (or major depression) Bipolar disorder (or manic depression) Diagnosable mental health conditions like substance abuse disorder or depressive disorders are common among individuals who commit suicide. For individuals from 15 to 24 years of age, suicide ranks as a leading cause of death.
Why is mental health important?
Good mental health is the cornerstone to being a complete and healthy individual, and raising awareness is crucial in the reduction of the stigma associated with mental health issues and mental health care.
How many people have mental health problems?
1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness. Almost 1 in 25 adults live with a serious mental illness. 50% of chronic mental illness start before 14 years of age. 75% of chronic mental illness start by age 24. Just over 10 million people over the age of 18 have more than 1 addiction or mental health disorder.
How many people believe mental health is equally important as physical health?
76% believe that their mental health is equally as important as their physical health. 52% of those in need of mental health care have tried to tough it out instead of seeking appropriate mental health care.
How many families have taken advantage of mental health care?
Only 14% of families have taken advantage of mental health care because of issues related to the pandemic. Between the military and their families, over 50% have looked for mental health care. In other surveys about mental health care, the Cohen Veterans Network found that:
What are the different categories of mental health?
The main classifications are: AMI – Any Mental Illness.
When does depression start?
For those suffering with major depression, initial onset typically occurs in the mid 20s. Annually, 26% of adults in America are personally impacted by diagnosable mental disorder. Each year, anxiety disorders are found in roughly 18% of adults aged 18 to 54, and include: Phobias.
What is a BEAM?
Black Emotional and Mental Health (BEAM) (link is external) : BEAM is a training, movement building and grant making organization dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black communities. BEAM envisions a world where there are no barriers to Black Healing. Toolkits & Education.
What are the factors that could potentially change beliefs about symptoms of mental illness?
Cohort effects, exposure to mental illness, and increased knowledge of mental illness are factors that could potentially change beliefs about symptoms of mental illness. Participants appeared apprehensive about seeking professional help for mental health issues, which is consistent with previous research.
How much of the prison population is black?
Black and African American people make up 13 percent of the general U.S. population, but nearly 40 percent of the prison population. [12] .
What percentage of mental health professionals are black?
Because less than 2 percent of American Psychological Association members are Black or African American, some may worry that mental health care practitioners are not culturally competent enough to treat their specific issues.
How many black people have mental health issues?
Sixteen percent (4.8 million) of Black and African American people reported having a mental illness, and 22.4 percent of those (1.1 million people) reported a serious mental illness over the past year. Serious mental illness (SMI) rose among all ages of Black and African American people between 2008 and 2018.
What are the beliefs of black people?
Black and African American hold beliefs related to stigma, psychological openness, and help-seeking, which in turn affects their coping behaviors. The participants in this study were not very open to acknowledging psychological problems, but they were somewhat open to seek mental health services.
How does racism affect mental health?
Despite progress made over the years, racism continues to have an impact on the mental health of Black and African American people. Negative stereotypes and attitudes of rejection have decreased, but continue to occur with measurable, adverse consequences.
What are the barriers to mental health?
Under the umbrella of socioeconomic disparities, Smithwick says barriers include provider bias, inequity in care, and discrimination in the healthcare system. “Conscious or unconscious bias ...
Why is there a gap in mental health for black people?
Experts break down three main reasons there is such a gap in access to mental healthcare for Black Americans. 1. Socioeconomic disparities. Socioeconomic disparities stemming from historical adversity, including slavery, sharecropping, and segregation as well as race-based exclusion from health, educational, social, and economic resources, ...
Why are black people more likely to seek help?
By increasing the cultural competency of healthcare professionals, Black Americans will be more likely to seek help. “Due to lack of empathy given to the multitude of traumas among African Americans, we often don’t seek professional help, since we don’t trust those in a position to help us,” Seele said.
What does Seele mean by "tailor treatment to black Americans"?
Tailor treatment to Black Americans. Seele points out the need to incorporate the cultural and spiritual experiences of African Americans into treatment plans. “African Americans want to be heard and accepted as respected individuals seeking treatment of a medical condition.
How many black people get mental health treatment?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 30 percent of Black American adults with mental health conditions receive treatment each year, compared to the U.S. average of 43 percent. “African Americans have historically faced stigma related to mental health…. Events centered around racial injustices and even ...
What are the mental health problems that affect black people?
Serious mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may also affect Black Americans more greatly. According to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black American adults are 10 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than white American adults.
Who is Pernessa Seele?
Pernessa Seele, PhD, CEO and founder of The Balm in Gilead, Janssen spokesperson, and host of the podcast “ Dr. P on the Pod ,” says the stigma of being perceived as “weak” is associated with mental health in the African American community, and keeps many from seeking professional help.
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.
Women Were More Likely Than Men to Have Received Any Mental Health Treatment.
- A little over one in four women (25.6%) received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, compared with 14.6% of men (Figure 2).
- Women were more likely than men to have taken medication for their mental health (21.2% and 11.5%, respectively) and to have received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional (12.1%...
Summary
- In 2020, 20.3% of U.S. adults received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 16.5% who had taken prescription medication for their mental health and 10.1% 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, past 12 months: 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 wh…
Data Source and Methods
- Data from the 2020 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 typically conducted in respondents’ homes, but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted ove…
About The Authors
- Emily Terlizzi and Tina Norris are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.
References
- 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.
- Vahratian A, Blumberg SJ, Terlizzi EP, Schiller JS. Symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder and use of mental health care among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, August 2020–Feb...
- 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.
- Vahratian A, Blumberg SJ, Terlizzi EP, Schiller JS. Symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder and use of mental health care among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, August 2020–Feb...
- 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, Norris T. Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2020. NCHS Data Brief, no 419. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:110593external icon.