Mental Health Treatment Among Adults Aged 18–44: United States, 2019–2021

Abstract

In 2020, the percentage of adults who had received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months was significantly higher than in 2019 (1,2). Previous research has found that symptoms of an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder increased from 2020 through the beginning of 2021, especially among younger adults (3). This report describes trends in the percentage of adults aged 18-44 who had received any mental health treatment, defined as having either taken medication for mental health, received counseling or therapy, or both in the past 12 months by selected characteristics based on data from the 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Estimates for adults aged 45-64 and 65 and over are presented for comparison.