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.