Mental Health Statistics

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.

Mental health statistics and facts

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 statistics

Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition.

Here are some key statistics about bipolar disorder:

• About one in 40 U.S. adults live with bipolar disorder.
• Women are more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder than men. However, men can experience their first episode of bipolar disorder earlier than women.
• The average age of onset of bipolar disorder is around 25 years old, but often presents during the teen years.
• While bipolar disorder affects all races and ethnicities equally, non-Hispanic Black Americans are more likely to receive improper treatment for bipolar disorder compared with non-Hispanic white people.
• Bipolar disorder is often diagnosed during a person’s teen years or early adulthood, however, the condition can sometimes appear in early adolescence.
• Bipolar I disorder has a higher lifetime incidence than bipolar II. The mean onset age for bipolar I disorder is 18 years old, with bipolar II often occurring around 22 years old.

Anxiety statistics

There are different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder.

Here are some key statistics about anxiety disorder:

• Anxiety disorders affect 40 million (19.1 percent) of U.S. adults age 18 and older each year.
• Women are more than twice as likely as men to experience an anxiety disorder.
• In 2019, non-Hispanic white adults were more likely to experience symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder than other races and Hispanic-origin groups.
• Systematic racism puts people of color at a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders than white people.
• The median age of onset for generalized anxiety disorder is 30 years old.
  

Depression statistics

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:

• Major depression affects more than 8 percent (21 million) of U.S. adults every year.
• Women are more likely to have depression than men. The highest prevalence of diagnosed depression was in young adults ages 18–24. Hispanic women reported the most depressive symptoms, followed by Black women, white and Asian women, Black men, Hispanic men, and white and Asian American men. Black Americans are less likely to show major depressive symptoms than white Americans.
• Adults with early-onset major depressive disorder were most often between 18–30 years.
• Suicidal acts are 3.4 times more lethal in men than in women.

Schizophrenia statistics

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that can affect the way a person perceives the world and behaves.

Here are some key statistics about schizophrenia:

• Approximately 3.7 million (1.8 percent) U.S. adults ages 18–65 have a lifetime history of schizophrenia disorders.
• The age of onset of schizophrenia in males is 3.2–4.1 years earlier than in females.
• Schizophrenia is often diagnosed in the late teen years to early 30s.

Suicide statistics

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:

• In 2022, 49,449 people died by suicide in the United States.
• In 2021, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall in the United States.
• In 2021, suicide was the second leading cause of death in people ages 10–14 and 25–34, the third leading cause of death among people ages 15–24, and the fifth leading cause of death for people ages 35–44.

Mental health statistics by age

Data suggest that mental health condition prevalence and access to treatment differ between age groups:

• An estimated one in five children have had a mental, emotional, or behavioral health disorder.
• Of those estimated one in five children, only around 20 percent receive care from a mental health care provider.
• Mental health problems in childhood are associated with impaired mental health, lower life satisfaction, and poorer quality of life in adulthood.
• Among teens ages 12–17, those who received mental health services (both inpatient and outpatient) rose from 11.8 percent in 2002 to 16.7 percent in 2019.
• In 2021, nearly a third (29 percent) of students struggled with mental health. Additionally, more than one in five seriously contemplated suicide and one in 10 made a suicide attempt.
• In 2020, 41.6 percent of young people ages 12–17 who experienced a major depressive episode received mental health treatment.
• In 2021, young adults ages 18–25 had the highest prevalence of mental illness in the United States at 33.7 percent.
• For adults, a severe mental illness is associated with a lower quality of life, making it difficult to accomplish daily tasks and reducing their level of independence, leading to low self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Nearly a third (28.2 percent) of adults with a mental health condition reported they were unable to receive the mental health treatment they needed. Furthermore, 42 percent of adults with a mental illness also said they were unable to receive necessary care because they could not afford it.
• An estimated one in five older adults experience mental health concerns.
• 12.2 percent of adults 65 and older reported that they “rarely” or “never” receive the necessary social and emotional support.

Mental health statistics by gender

Data suggest that mental health condition prevalence and access to treatment differ between gender identities:

• The prevalence of any mental illness was higher in women (27.2 percent) than in men (18.1 percent) in 2021.
• 67 percent of transgender and nonbinary people ages 13–24 reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 54 percent reported symptoms of depression in 2023.
• Women with serious mental disorders can face issues that can worsen their mental health, including stigma, gender discrimination and sexism, domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and single parenthood.
• Men with depression are more likely to say they experience symptoms including irritability, fatigue, and loss of interest in work or hobbies instead of feelings of sadness or worthlessness.
• Whether or not they feel socially accepted by family or others can impact the mental health and safety of transgender and nonbinary individuals.
• Among women between the ages of 18–64 who believed they needed mental health treatment from 2020 to 2022, half attempted and were able to make an appointment, 10 percent attempted to but couldn’t get an appointment, and 40 percent didn’t seek care.
• Nearly 27 percent of transgender people report being denied health care outright. Regarding mental health care, lack of cultural sensitivity, stigma, and unconscious or conscious resistance to address sexuality may impact the effectiveness of care.

Mental health statistics by race

Data also suggest that mental health condition prevalence and access to treatment differ based on race and ethnic identity:

• The percentage of Black and African Americans who reported having a mental illness was lower than the percentage of non-Hispanic whites, at 21 percent versus 23.9 percent, respectively.
• Symptoms of current depression were reported 59 percent more frequently by Hispanic adults than non-Hispanic white adults.
• In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death among African Americans between the ages of 10–24.
• Cultural incompetence from health care providers likely contributes to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of mental illness in people of color.
• People of color can face barriers to mental health care due to stereotypes and discrimination associated with poor mental health.

Mental health industry statistics

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:

• In 2022, the U.S. behavioral health market size was valued at $79.99 billion, with the market expected to grow from $83.70 billion in 2023. In 2023, the global health care value was valued at $435.2 billion.
• A study conducted from December 2022 to March 2023 found that out of 1,221 U.S. mental health facilities accepting new patients, 980 (80.2 percent) offered telehealth services.

Availability of mental health professionals by state

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 five states that rank the highest for access to care include Vermont, Massachusetts, Illinois, Montana, and the District of Columbia.
• The five states that rank the lowest for access to care include Arizona, Kansas, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.

The prevalence of adults with any mental illness who did not receive care by state:

• The five states with the lowest rates of adults with any mental illness who did not receive treatment in the past year include Montana (40.6 percent), Nebraska (42.4 percent), Massachusetts (42.8 percent), Vermont (43.1 percent), and Arkansas (45.5 percent).
• The five states with the highest rates of adults with any mental illness who did not receive treatment in the past year include Texas (62.3 percent), Alabama (62.4 percent), California (62.6 percent), Arizona (63.5 percent), and Hawaii (69.1 percent).

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:

• The five states that ranked highest for the number of mental health professionals per population include Massachusetts (1:140, or one mental health professional for every 140 individuals), Alaska (1:160), Oregon (1:170), the District of Columbia (1:180), and Maine (1:190).
• The five states that ranked the lowest for the number of mental health professionals per population include Georgia (1:640), Arizona (1:660), West Virginia (1:670), Texas (1:760), and Alabama (1:850).

Statistics about mental health professionals

If you’re seeking treatment for a mental health condition, you may connect with one or more of the following mental health professionals:

Psychiatrists

• Psychiatrists diagnose mental disorders, prescribe medications, and refer patients to therapists. Psychiatrists earn a mean annual salary of $256,930.
• Highest-paying states include New Mexico (salary not disclosed), Connecticut ($338,620), Louisiana ($318,770), Minnesota ($304,040), and Missouri ($299,560).
• The number of adult psychiatrists is expected to decrease by 20 percent by 2030.

Therapists

• A mental health therapist is trained to evaluate a person’s mental health, apply therapeutic techniques, and develop a treatment plan based on the diagnosis. Therapists earn a mean annual salary of $75,660.
• Highest-paying states include Oregon ($148,980), Arizona ($114,570), Alaska ($111,510), South Carolina ($104,200), and Nevada ($103,860).

Psychologists

• Psychologists are trained to evaluate and diagnose a person’s mental health by administering clinical interviews, evaluations, and testing. Psychologists earned a mean annual salary of $106,600 in 2023.
• Highest-paying states for clinical and counseling psychologists include New Jersey ($148,370), California ($132,410), Oregon ($129,470), Rhode Island ($120,720), and Maine ($117,710).
• There will be an estimated 12,800 job openings each year for psychologists in the United States over the next decade.

Counselors

• Counselors are professionals who evaluate a person’s mental health and apply therapeutic techniques to treat symptoms. Counselors earned a mean annual salary of $52,360 in 2023.
• Highest-paying states for counselors include Virginia ($95,320), the District of Columbia ($89,320), New Jersey ($84,320), North Dakota ($72,170), and Hawaii ($69,100).
• Many of these professionals now offer virtual care with the rise of online therapy and online psychiatry. In fact, about 13 percent of mental health specialists have shifted to working fully online since 2019.

Bottom line

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, 2024