Nearly one-third of US adolescents got mental health treatment last year, federal report says

Nearly a third of adolescents in the United States received treatment for their mental health in 2023, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

SAMSHA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health for 2023, published Tuesday, found 31.9 percent of those aged 12 to 17 underwent mental health treatment, equal to about 8.3 million people. This marks an increase from the 7.7 million, or 29.8 percent, of adolescents who received mental health treatment the year prior, according to the 2022 report.

Outpatient treatment was the most common type, including such settings as a school counselor or therapist’s office, with 59.8 percent of those receiving mental health treatment — or 2.7 million — selecting this option, per the report.

About 14.2 percent said they received telehealth treatment, 13.9 percent said they were put on prescription medication and 3.5 percent said they were in an inpatient setting, per the report.

The largest jump in treatment type was seen for those using medication for mental health treatment, increasing from 12.8 percent in 2022 to 13.9 percent last year, researchers noted. The agency said this was not a statically significant difference.

Studies in the past year have indicated a bleak picture of youth mental health in America. A KFF analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data published last March found half of people 18-24 reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2023. 

The number of adults receiving mental health treatment also increased from 21.8 percent, or 55.8 million people in 2022 to 23 percent —59.2 million — last year.

Leaders of the agency said Tuesday they were “pleased” to see the number of people seeking out mental health treatment increase in 2023 when compared to the previous year

“We think it’s a good thing that more people are accessing and connecting with mental health treatment. Certainly that has been a focus of the Biden Harris administration to make treatment more accessible, to help people know that treatment and services and supports are available,” Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam Delphin-Rittmon told reporters during a briefing Tuesday, CBS News reported.

The Biden administration has invested millions into increasing accessibility to mental health counseling services. Earlier this year, the administration gave $285 million to help schools hire and train more than 14,000 mental health counselors.

While improvements were seen in those receiving help, Delphin-Rittmon told reporters the report still “shows us that we must remain steadfast in our efforts to address mental health and substance use crises,” per CBS.

SAMHSA’s annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted using face-to-face and web-based interviews with people ages 12 and older.