Surveying America’s Mental Health

5 stats from national report highlight critical need for access to behavioral health services

August 01, 2024

Nearly 23 percent of American adults reported having a mental disorder last year, according to a new report from the federal government.

The report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) summarizes how people living in the United States reported their experience with mental health, substance use, and treatment.

"We're pleased to see that more people received mental health treatment in 2023 than the previous year," said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, the leader of SAMHSA.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Prevalence:  Among adults 18 or older during 2023, 22.8 percent (58.7 million) had any mental illness (AMI) in the past year.
• Access to treatment:  About 23 percent of adults (59.2 million) received mental health treatment in the past year, an increase of 3.4 million from 2022.
• Opioids:  During 2023, 8.9 million people (3.1%) misused opioids in the past year, which is comparable to previous years.
• Children:  An estimated 4.5 million children between 12 and 17 had a major depressive episode in the past year.
  • About 34 percent of adolescents who had a major depressive episode in the past year (1.5 million) received mental health treatment via telehealth.
  • About 40 percent did not receive mental health treatment in the past year.
• Provider shortage:  There are 340 people for every mental health provider in the U.S., although this may include some providers who are no longer accepting new patients.

The report is available to review online.