Mental Health Statistics And Facts In 2023

Sep 29,2023

Millions of Americans experience symptoms of a mental health condition each year, and the number of people seeking care is trending upward. While a mental health diagnosis may impact an individual’s daily life, it can also have a ripple effect across families, communities and even economies.

Here’s a closer look at the current state of mental health, including how many people experience mental health conditions and which populations are most at risk.

21% of U.S. adults experienced a mental health condition in 2020

5.6% of U.S. adults experienced a serious mental health condition in 2020, which is often defined as a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder or a severe anxiety or eating disorder that significantly impairs functioning

In 2020, 32.1% of U.S. adults experienced both a mental health condition and substance abuse

In 2019, 15.3% of U.S. veterans experienced a mental health condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or substance abuse

As of 2020, suicide is the second leading cause of death for U.S. children ages 10 to 14, preceded only by unintentional injury

The impact depression and anxiety has on the global economy can be measured in $1 trillion in lost productivity each year

In 2020, 51.2% of U.S. females received mental health services, while only 37.4% of males received mental health services.

Young adults ages 18 to 25 in the U.S have the highest rate of experiencing any mental health concerns (30.6%) compared to adults aged 26 to 49 years, and the highest rate of serious mental illness (9.7%)

Females are diagnosed with serious mental health conditions at higher rates than males, 7% to 4.2%, respectively

The percentage of U.S. adults receiving mental health treatment rose from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021.

The coronavirus pandemic led to increased diagnoses of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, says Angeleena Francis, a licensed mental health counselor and the executive director at AMFM Healthcare, a mental health treatment center in Seattle. Francis attributes the rising rates of mental health diagnoses to both the destigmatization of treatment and its increased accessibility.

“Talking about mental health does not cause or increase mental health issues or diagnosis, but rather allows for individuals to seek help at lower levels of care,” Francis says, noting that many mental health services are now offered in primary care settings.

Source: Forbes