Sep 7, 2022 - Health

More U.S. adults receiving mental health treatment

Share of U.S. adults who received mental health treatment between 2019 and 2021, by age group
Data: CDC; Chart: Axios Visuals

Nearly 22% of all U.S. adults received some form of mental health treatment in 2021, up from about 19% just two years earlier, new data from the CDC's 2019–2021 National Health Interview Survey shows.

  • The increase was largely driven by a five-point jump in the percentage of adults ages 18 to 44 who either took medication for mental health or received counseling or therapy.

Why it matters: The uptick corresponds with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been linked to widespread mental distress.

  • It also corresponds with increasingly open discussion and acceptance in pop culture and sports when it comes to mental health challenges.
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