Over half of adults with a mental health illness received treatment in 2023, according to a recent report.
Photo by Prostock-Studio, courtesy iStockphoto
Uptake of mental health treatment is growing in the U.S., with nearly a quarter of adults and a third of adolescents receiving it in 2023, a July report says.
The number of people receiving mental health treatment rose to nearly 59 million last year, an increase of 3 million from 2022, according to the report, which detailed findings from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
“We’re pleased to see that more people received mental health treatment in 2023 than the previous year,” Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said in a news release.
The national survey, conducted by SAMHSA, found that 23% of American adults experienced a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder in the past year, with 6% reporting that their condition significantly interfered with or limited major life activities. Barriers to care include stigma, confidentiality concerns and cost. But the report indicated that access to treatment is improving.
In 2023, over half of adults with a mental illness received treatment, including 16% through prescription medication, 14% through outpatient care and 12% from telehealth. About 9 million adults accessed support through groups, peer specialists, recovery coaches or emergency services.
Nearly a third of youth ages 12-17 received mental health treatment last year and nearly 60% who experienced a major depressive episode received treatment the previous year. Unfortunately nearly 750,000 youth who experienced a major depressive episode said they felt that they did not get the treatment they needed.
Mental illness is often linked to misuse of drugs or alcohol. Of the nearly 1 million adults who had serious mental illness, almost half also had a substance use disorder.
Substance use disorder was most common among American Indian and Alaska Native people ages 12 and older, occurring among a quarter of the population. Multiracial Americans had the second highest rate at 24%.
The report also found 3% of Americans 12 years of age and older misused opioids last year.
For more on “Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,” visit www.samhsa.gov.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
