Mental health care utilization varies by demographic and location in the United States. As of 2020, about 20.3% of U.S. adults received some form of mental health treatment within the past year. This included 16.5% who took prescription medication for their mental health and 10.1% who received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional. Interestingly, the rate of mental health treatment was higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.
Between 2019 and 2023, there was an observed increase in mental health treatment among adults. By 2023, about 23.9% of adults were reported to have received some form of mental health treatment, reflecting a growing recognition and perhaps availability of mental health services.
In addition to treatment statistics, it’s noted that nearly half of the U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021, with a significantly higher treatment rate among those with serious mental illness at 65.4%. Despite these statistics, a substantial treatment gap exists, with many people still not receiving the mental health care they need, often due to lack of insurance coverage or access to appropriate care facilities
