Mental health treatment among children by age U.S. 2013-2019

Between 2017 and 2018, around 9.6 percent of children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 years in the United States consulted a mental health professional. This statistic illustrates the percentage of children and adolescents in the U.S. who received any mental health treatment or service from 2013 to 2019.

Percentage of children and adolescents in the U.S. who received any mental health treatment or service from 2013 to 2019

Characteristic	Percentage of respondents
Mental health treatment, professional*	10.1%
Mental health consultation, professional**	9.6%
Mental health consultation, general physician**	5.2%
Mental health services***	25.9%
Past year medication for mental health problems*	7.8%
Current medication for mental health problems****	6.6%

0%5%10%15%20%25%30%

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Release date

February 2022

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

2013-2019

Number of respondents

171,078 respondents

Age group

3-17 years

Special properties

age-adjusted

Supplementary notes

Original questions: "During the past 12 months, has this child received any treatment or counseling from a mental health professional? During the past 12 months, have you seen or talked to...a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or clinical social worker...about child’s health? Did you see or talk to this general doctor because of an emotional or behavioral problem that [child] may have? During the past 12 months, has this child taken any medication because of difficulties with his or her emotions, concentration, or behavior?"
Count represents sum of all responses to the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) (114,476 respondents, 3 to 17 years), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (14,287 respondents, 3 to 17 years), National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (33,678 respondents, 12 to 17 years), and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (8,637 respondents, 12 to 17 years).
* Values represent period from 2016 to 2019.
** Values represent period from 2017 to 2018.
*** Values represent period from 2018 to 2019. Figures include receipt of specialty and non-specialty mental health services.
**** Values represent period from 2013 to 2018.

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