The percentage treatment rates of US adults (male and female) are 37.4% and 51.2% as at 2021. But these numbers might not provide a clear picture of mental health care shortages in America.
With records showing a wide gap between the onset of mental illness and treatment, monitoring care quotas is essential.
Some reports show that the gap between mental health decline and treatment might take more than 10 years. Such an alarming figuring means it is crucial to know what percentage of adults actually get mental health care.
Several socioeconomic factors might determine who gets access to mental health care services. The over $220 billion per year mental health sector is expected to grow, but will it serve everyone?
In this article, you will get relevant information on the percentage of adults who need mental health care and get it. The post also provides vital details on related metrics to deliver a clearer picture of mental health access numbers in America.
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General Percentage of Adults that Receive Needed Mental Health Care
27% of US young adults suffering from depression receive consistent mental health care
Youths living with severe depression in the US continues rising according to several metrics. While young adults with acute depression increase, access to mental health care isn’t growing.
Reports show that about 27 out of 100 youth suffering from severe depression can access regular care. States like Tennessee record even lower numbers with just 12 out of 100 youths with depression getting mental health care.
19% of US adults receive mental health care every 12 months
Several reports state that 20% of US adults across all age groups suffer from depression and other mental health challenges. However, the number of people to have received any form of mental health treatment are much lower.
Numbers show that just 19.2% of adults receive mental health treatment over a 12-month period.
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Percentage of Adults Who Receive Mental Health Care by Age
18% of adults aged 18 – 44 years get access to mental health treatment
Figures from the CDC reveal that about 18.5% of US adults within 18 – 44 years get access to mental health care. The numbers show that about 18 out of every 100 young and middle-aged US adults can access vital care across states.
20% of adults aged 45 – 64 years get access to mental health treatment
1 out of every 5 people aged between 45 to 64 years receive mental health treatment in America. The figure reveals that adults over 44 years are more likely to receive mental health care than under-45 adults.
19% of adults aged 65+ get access to mental health treatment
Adults older than 65 years old have a similar mental care access percentage to 45 – 64 year patients. About 19 out of every 100 patients older than 65 years of age are sure of mental health treatment in America.
Percentage of People Who Receive Mental Health Care by Gender
1 out of 4 US women who need mental health care get access
CDC figures show that 25% of women receive mental health treatment in the US over a 12-month period. The numbers show that women have a higher percentage of mental health care access than male patients.
1 out of 8 men who need mental health care will get access
Figures show that about 13% of men who need mental health care will receive it in American states. Numbers might differ across states but this figure shows that men get much lower access to care than females.
Percentage of Adults who Receive Mental Health Care by Race
1 out of 4 non-Hispanic white adults receive mental health care
About 23% of non-Hispanic, white US adults are likely to receive mental health care upon request. The percentage of adults in this category is different across states and higher in locations with better mental health care infrastructure.
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1 out of 10 Hispanic and Black adults receive mental health care
About 10% of Hispanic and African American adults receive mental health care services across US states.
Percentage of Adults Who Do Not Receive Needed Mental Health Care
60% of US youth grappling with depression don’t receive any treatment
US states including Vermont and other locations with great mental health care numbers don’t offer complete assistance to youth. Reports show that over 6 out of 10 young adults suffering from depression don’t get care assistance at all.
While numbers in states with high access-to-care figures are quite low, other locations are much worse. For example, states like Texas can only offer mental health care treatment to 3 out of 10 young adults who need it.
11% of Americans with mental illnesses are not insured
Studies conducted in 2021 show that 11 out of every 100 people suffering from mental health problems have no insurance coverage. The number shows a slight increase from 2020 reports where 10 out of 100 mental health patients were uninsured.
Over 27 million adults do not receive treatment for mental illness
States with poor mental health infrastructure usually have more adults without mental health care access. For example, 67% of adults in Hawaii don’t receive treatment for mental health issues.
Even states with high mental healthcare access numbers like Virginia report over 40% adults without needed care.
Over 24% of adults with mental illness report unmet needs after receiving treatment
Recent studies reveal that about 24 out of 100 US residents who seek mental health care don’t get satisfactory service. The numbers are higher in states with poor provisions for mental health infrastructure.
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Conclusion
Several factors determine what percentage of the American population can access mental health care services. Some of these factors include location, race, insurance coverage, age, and much more.
A common trend across datasets show that states with high access to mental health care record more care to people who need it. Other states with inadequate mental health care infrastructure usually record low reports of consistent medical assistance.
Increasing access to mental health care is possible across all US states. Access to funding and improved collaboration among states for a working mental healthcare model is necessary to achieve widespread care.
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