Mental Health
talking points

Mental Health Foundation #breakthestigma bracelet - 380x300

Mental Health talking points

Mental-Health-Foundation-#breakthestigma-bracelet—300×142

Mental Health talking points

Thank you for looking to be a part of helping raise awareness about mental health as we work together to #breakthestigma around mental health conditions and their treatment.

This page contains information to help equip our supporters and members of the public with statistics and talking points on the topic of mental health. This will help individuals have informed discussions on the topic of mental health.

93% of the 15% of US adults with a substance abuse disorder got no treatment
12.1 million adults report having serious thoughts about suicide
11% of people reporting 2 or more races had serious thoughts of suicide
10% of youth suffer from depression that impairs school, work and or relationships
54.7% of adults with mental illness get no treatment
60% of youth with major depression receive no mental health treatment
The ratio of care providers to people in the US is 1:350
COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide

See below for more talking points, and for a closer look, check out our article about mental health statistics.

ANY MENTAL ILLNESS

Any mental illness (AMI), includes mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder ranging in severity from mild to severe:

24.7% were unable to get treatment for reasons like:

Limited coverage
Lack of specific treatment options like inpatient, individual or intensive
Poor communication between primary care and behavioral health services
Financial issues
No Insurance
Insurance not taken by some providers
Prevalence by state ranges from 14.9% in Hawaii to 37.1% in the District of Columbia

With AMI with appropriate treatment

56% are receiving no treatment
Prevalence by state ranges from 42.6% in Vermont to 67.1% in Hawaii

Financial barriers to getting help with cognitive disability

Prevalence of cognitive disability ranges from 8.9% to 19.6%
29.67% were prevented from getting the care they needed because of finances
Prevalence by state ranges from 18.48% in Rhode Island to 40.65% in Texas

Uninsured adults with AMI

total 11.1% (between 5 and 6 million)
increased by 0.5% over previous year
Prevalence by state ranges from 3.8% in Massachusetts to 21.5% in Texas

Getting appropriate treatment for AMI

56% are receiving no treatment
Prevalence by state ranges from 42.6% in Vermont to 67.1% in Hawaii

DEPRESSION

Youth aged between 12 and 17:

Experiencing one or more Major Depressive Episode (MDE)

15.08% experienced one or more major depressive episodes
The chances of depression continuing into adulthood increase when left untreated
Numbers grew by 306,000 for youth suffering from major depressive episodes in 2022.

Severe major depression

10.6% suffer from severe major depression
Severe major depression increased by 197,000 over 2021
Prevalence by state ranges from 7.3% in District of Columbia to 14.8% in Wyoming

Mental or emotional problems not covered by insurance

Total of 950,000 youth could not get access to care covered by insurance
Reflects an increase of 0.3% over the previous year
Prevalence by state ranges from 1.9% in Massachusetts to 17.7% in Arkansas

Receiving Consistent Treatment

27.2% of those with MDE had 7-25 or more visits in prior year
Rate by state ranges from 65.6% in Maine to 12.2% in Tennessee

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Youth to Adult:

Youth 12 to 17

4.8% report substance abuse in previous year
1.64% had issues with alcohol use disorder
3.16% had issues with illicit drug use disorder
Prevalence by state ranges from 3.19% in Alabama to 5.77% in Oregon

Adults 18 +

7.74% report substance abuse in previous year
5.71% report issues with alcohol use disorder in previous year
2.97% report issues with illicit drug use disorder in previous year
Prevalence by state ranges from 5.98% in Florida to 12.30% in the District of Columbia

TREATMENT

Adults aged 18 and over who have received any treatment for their mental health in the past 12 months:

Aged over 18 by age group

Total 19.2% to 21.6%
Ages 18-44 – 18.5% to 23.2%
Ages 45-64 – 20.2% to 21.2%
Ages 65 and over – 19.4% to 18.9%

Aged 18–44 by sex

Men 18-44 – 13.1% to 17.8%
Women 18-44 – 23.8% to 28.6%

Aged 18–44 by race

Hispanic – 11.7% to 12.8%
Non-Hispanic White – 23.8% to 30.4%
Non-Hispanic Black – 12.4% to 14.8%
Non-Hispanic Asian – 6.0% to 10.8%

Aged 18–44 by urbanization level

Large metropolitan 16.8% to 22.2%
Medium and small metropolitan 21.1% to 24.6%
Non metropolitan 20.0% to 25.2%

ANY MENTAL ILLNESS

Any mental illness (AMI), includes mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder ranging in severity from mild to severe:

24.7% were unable to get treatment for reasons like:

Limited coverage
Lack of specific treatment options like inpatient, individual or intensive
Poor communication between primary care and behavioral health services
Financial issues
No Insurance
Insurance not taken by some providers
Prevalence by state ranges from 14.9% in Hawaii to 37.1% in the District of Columbia

With AMI with appropriate treatment

56% are receiving no treatment
Prevalence by state ranges from 42.6% in Vermont to 67.1% in Hawaii

Financial barriers to getting help with cognitive disability

Prevalence of cognitive disability ranges from 8.9% to 19.6%
29.67% were prevented from getting the care they needed because of finances
Prevalence by state ranges from 18.48% in Rhode Island to 40.65% in Texas

Uninsured adults with AMI

total 11.1% (between 5 and 6 million)
increased by 0.5% over previous year
Prevalence by state ranges from 3.8% in Massachusetts to 21.5% in Texas

Getting appropriate treatment for AMI

56% are receiving no treatment
Prevalence by state ranges from 42.6% in Vermont to 67.1% in Hawaii

DEPRESSION

Youth aged between 12 and 17:

Experiencing one or more Major Depressive Episode (MDE)

15.08% experienced one or more major depressive episodes
The chances of depression continuing into adulthood increase when left untreated
Numbers grew by 306,000 for youth suffering from major depressive episodes in 2022.

Severe major depression

10.6% suffer from severe major depression
Severe major depression increased by 197,000 over 2021
Prevalence by state ranges from 7.3% in District of Columbia to 14.8% in Wyoming

Mental or emotional problems not covered by insurance

Total of 950,000 youth could not get access to care covered by insurance
Reflects an increase of 0.3% over the previous year
Prevalence by state ranges from 1.9% in Massachusetts to 17.7% in Arkansas

Receiving Consistent Treatment

27.2% of those with MDE had 7-25 or more visits in prior year
Rate by state ranges from 65.6% in Maine to 12.2% in Tennessee

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

12 to 44 years and over:

Youth 12 to 17

4.8% report substance abuse in previous year
1.64% had issues with alcohol use disorder
3.16% had issues with illicit drug use disorder
Prevalence by state ranges from 3.19% in Alabama to 5.77% in Oregon

Adults 18 +

7.74% report substance abuse in previous year
5.71% report issues with alcohol use disorder in previous year
2.97% report issues with illicit drug use disorder in previous year
Prevalence by state ranges from 5.98% in Florida to 12.30% in the District of Columbia

TREATMENT

Adults aged 18 and over who have received any treatment for their mental health in the past 12 months:

Aged over 18 by age group

Total 19.2% to 21.6%
Ages 18-44 – 18.5% to 23.2%
Ages 45-64 – 20.2% to 21.2%
Ages 65 and over – 19.4% to 18.9%

Aged 18–44 by sex

Men 18-44 – 13.1% to 17.8%
Women 18-44 – 23.8% to 28.6%

Aged 18–44 by race

Hispanic – 11.7% to 12.8%
Non-Hispanic White – 23.8% to 30.4%
Non-Hispanic Black – 12.4% to 14.8%
Non-Hispanic Asian – 6.0% to 10.8%

Aged 18–44 by urbanization level

Large metropolitan 16.8% to 22.2%
Medium and small metropolitan 21.1% to 24.6%
Non metropolitan 20.0% to 25.2%

Sources CDC | MHA NATIONAL | MHA NATIONAL | WHO

FINDING HELP

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911.

If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through their website:

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

or by phone

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Suicide Prevention Life Line

FINDING HELP

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911.

If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through their website:

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

or by phone

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Suicide Prevention Life Line

FINDING HELP

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911.

If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through their website:

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

or by phone

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Suicide Prevention Life Line

Mental Health talking points

Mental Health talking points

Mental Health talking points

Thank you for looking to be a part of helping raise awareness about mental health as we work together to #breakthestigma around mental health conditions and their treatment.

ANY MENTAL ILLNESS

DEPRESSION

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

TREATMENT

ANY MENTAL ILLNESS

Any mental illness (AMI), includes mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder ranging in severity from mild to severe:

DEPRESSION

Youth aged between 12 and 17:

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Youth to Adult:

TREATMENT

Adults aged 18 and over who have received any treatment for their mental health in the past 12 months:

ANY MENTAL ILLNESS

DEPRESSION

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

TREATMENT

ANY MENTAL ILLNESS

Any mental illness (AMI), includes mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder ranging in severity from mild to severe:

DEPRESSION

Youth aged between 12 and 17:

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

12 to 44 years and over:

TREATMENT

Adults aged 18 and over who have received any treatment for their mental health in the past 12 months:

Sources CDC | MHA NATIONAL | MHA NATIONAL | WHO

FINDING HELP

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911.

If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through their website:

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

or by phone

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

FINDING HELP

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911.

If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through their website:

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

or by phone

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

FINDING HELP

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911.

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

or by phone

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Mental Health
talking points