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 people with common mental health problems get treatment?
The proportion of people with a common mental health problem using mental health treatment has significantly increased. Around one person in four aged 16–74 with symptoms of a common mental health problem was receiving some kind of mental health treatment in 2000 (23.1%) and 2007 (24.4%).
Which groups are most likely to receive mental health treatment?
Women are more likely than men to receive treatment for all mental health conditions, with 15% of women receiving treatment compared to 9% of men. 5 Young people aged 16-24 were found to be less likely to receive mental health treatment than any other age group. 6
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 ).
Which age groups are least likely to receive mental health treatment?
Young people aged 16-24 were found to be less likely to receive mental health treatment than any other age group. 6 White British people are more likely to receive mental health treatment (13.3%) compared to BAME groups (7%). The lowest percentage of people receiving treatment were those from black ethnic minority groups (6.2%). 7
What percentage of adults needing mental health care received it?
Statistical DataRankStatePercentage22California7.722New Jersey8.823Montana10.00%23Hawaii870 more rows
Are more people seeking mental health treatment?
Comment: Nearly half of American households have had someone seek mental health treatment this year, but many still perceive cost and lack of insurance coverage as barriers to seeking help, according to a recent national poll by APA's Practice Directorate.
What percentage of people will have a mental health problem?
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.
What percentage of people has therapy helped?
Our survey respondents found therapy to be effective, as 86% said it helped them cope with the pandemic in some form. While the most common reason for seeking therapy — anxiety/stress — was nearly the same for both men (21%) and women (20%), there were wider differences among other reasons.
What race goes to therapy the most?
Outpatient mental health service use in the past year was highest for adults reporting two or more races (8.8 percent), white adults (7.8 percent), and American Indian or Alaska Native adults (7.7 percent), followed by black (4.7 percent), Hispanic (3.8 percent), and Asian (2.5 percent) adults.
What is the success rate of therapy?
Research shows that most people who receive psychotherapy experience symptom relief and are better able to function in their lives. About 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it.
How many people that are diagnosed with a mental illness seek help?
Mental Health Services — SMI 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%).
At what age does 50% of all lifetime mental ill health Begin and 75% by what age?
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
Why is mental health 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.
How many people seek therapy every year?
In 2020, around 41.4 million adults in the United States received treatment or counseling for their mental health within the past year.
What percentage of Millennials go to therapy?
Lastly, 45.9% of Millennials reported they had been in therapy at some time in their lives, compared to 53.7% of Baby-Boomers.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
What are the different categories of mental health?
The main classifications are: AMI – Any Mental Illness.
Can you have one mental disorder and a second?
It is not uncommon for people with one mental health disorder to have a second or more coexisting disorder. For example, someone with anxiety, could also suffer from depression along with alcohol and / or substance abuse.
How many people in the US have received mental health treatment?
adults who received mental health treatment or counseling within the previous year from 2002 to 2019. In 2019, it was estimated that around 40.2 million adults in the U.S. received mental health treatment or counseling at some time in the previous year.
What is mental health services?
Mental Health Services is defined as having received inpatient treatment/counseling or outpatient treatment/counseling or having used prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health. Respondents were not to include treatment for drug or alcohol use.
U.S. Trends in Mental Health Care
The slight uptick in mental health treatment could signal a growing trend, but it’s hard to know if it will continue past 2020. Regarding the other trends found, they don’t differ much from 2019. 3 But they do offer more detail on who is seeking treatment and where.
The Rural and Urban Divide
The NHIS found various trends that have been identified before. However, one trend—the difference in the type of mental health care sought out between urbanized and less urbanized environments—is not as well-studied.
The Future of Mental Health Care
Differences in access to mental health treatment between urbanized and less urbanized environments could reduce in a post-pandemic world.
What is the most common type of mental health treatment?
The most common type of mental health treatmentamong U.S. adults is prescription medication, followed by outpatient and inpatient care.
What are the most common forms of mental illness?
The most common forms of mental illness are depression and anxiety.
How many Americans believe that mental health disorders can get better?
A total of 87% of American adults agreed that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of, and 86% said they believe that people with mental health disorders can get better, according to the poll. "The results of this survey are encouraging, and a signal that APA's and others' work over the years to promote mental health care is ...
What percentage of Americans believe in mental health?
A total of 87% of American adults agreed that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of, and 86% said they believe ...
How many people would be comfortable with a mental health disorder?
The survey found that 81% of people said they would be very or somewhat comfortable being friends with someone with a mental health disorder, and 79% would be very or somewhat comfortable interacting with a person with a mental health disorder. Those numbers dropped, though, for more intimate involvement: The proportion ...
Do minorities consider mental health disorders?
Notably, significant minorities of Americans do not consider the most common mental health disorders to be disorders. A third (33%) said they did not consider anxiety to be a mental illness, and 22% said the same about depression. The survey also delved into attitudes about suicide. Large majorities of Americans agree that people who are suicidal ...
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 profess…
- 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, the percentage who had re…
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.