Building Better Mental Health
Six strategies to boost your mood and build resilience
Mental illness impacts millions of people in the United States. Here are all the facts and stats you need to know about mental health and how to get treatment.
If you’re living with a mental health condition, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over a fifth of U.S. adults live with some form of mental health issue—and about 4 percent of adults have a mental health concern that significantly impacts their daily lives. Additionally, more than one in five U.S. teens ages 13–18 live with or have experienced serious mental illness.
The HelpGuide Handbook Team has put together this resource to address the state of mental health in the United States. Below, you’ll find mental health statistics, including the most common mental health diagnoses, symptoms, and treatments.
Growing awareness around mental health conditions means more research is available than ever before. But as you read through the sections below, it’s important to point out that not everyone with a mental health condition seeks care.
There’s still a stigma around mental health issues and many barriers to treatment exist, preventing some people from accessing care. You can read more about obstacles and overcoming them in our guide to therapy statistics. The HelpGuide Handbook Team has spent hours compiling important statistics and facts about mental health—broken down by diagnoses like bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and suicide and other demographics like age, gender, and race to find out more about the prevalence and causes of different mental health diagnoses in the United States.
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition.
Here are some key statistics about bipolar disorder:
There are different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder.
Here are some key statistics about anxiety disorder:
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions. There are also several types of depression, with different symptoms that can appear at different times.
Here are some key statistics about depression:
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that can affect the way a person perceives the world and behaves.
Here are some key statistics about schizophrenia:
Suicide is the act of taking one’s life. It is not a mental health condition, but people with certain severe mental health conditions may be at risk of dying by suicide.
Here are some key statistics about suicide:
If you or someone you know is a danger to themselves or others around them, it is an emergency.
Don’t wait. You can find help immediately by:
All the above options will connect you with trained professionals who can provide crisis support. You can find even more resources, including international options, on our helpline directory page.
Data suggest that mental health condition prevalence and access to treatment differ between age groups:
Data suggest that mental health condition prevalence and access to treatment differ between gender identities:
Data also suggest that mental health condition prevalence and access to treatment differ based on race and ethnic identity:
The mental health industry continues to see high demand for mental health services. Below, are a few facts and statistics about the industry at large:
The number of mental health professionals and the availability of care can vary by state. Here are some statistics about the states with the highest, and lowest, numbers of mental health professionals and treatment options.
Access to mental health care by state:
The prevalence of adults with any mental illness who did not receive care by state:
In the United States in 2022, there were 350 people for every one mental health professional. The number of mental health care providers to the population varies by state:
If you’re seeking treatment for a mental health condition, you may connect with one or more of the following mental health professionals:
Psychiatrists
Therapists
Psychologists
Counselors
You shouldn’t feel shame about living with a mental health condition. You’re not alone—and there are resources that can help you find the right type of support and care. Whether you’re living with symptoms of a mental health condition or know someone who is, consider talking with your primary care provider or a mental health professional in your area about your options.
Last updated or reviewed on July 31, 2024Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives.
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