skip to main content

This page has been archived and is no longer being updated regularly.

Datapoint

Datapoint: Young adults are less likely than older adults to use mental health services

September 2016, Vol 47, No. 8

Print version: page 29

1 min read

APA Style leaf logo Cite This Article in APA Style
Lin, L., Stamm, K., & Christidis, P. (2016, September 1). Datapoint: Young adults are less likely than older adults to use mental health services. Monitor on Psychology, 47(8). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/datapoint

Fifteen percent of all U.S. adults ages 18 or older used mental health services of some kind in the preceding year—prescription medication, outpatient treatment/counseling or inpatient treatment/ counseling—according to a 2014 survey.1,2 That’s more than 35 million people.3 But when broken down by age group, young adults ages 18 to 25 used significantly fewer services than older age groups.4


Young adults are less likely than older adults to use mental health services


By Luona Lin, MPP,  Karen Stamm, PhD , and Peggy Christidis, PhD. For more information, contact cws.apa.org.

 

1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Receipt of services for behavioral health problems: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Retrieved from www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DR-FRR3-2014/NSDUH-DR-FRR3-2014/NSDUH-DR-FRR3-2014.pdfopens in new window

2Mental health service utilization was defined as "having received inpatient or outpatient treatment/counseling, or having used prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health." Treatment for drug or alcohol use was excluded.

3Sixty-six percent used one type of service, 31 percent used two types of services and 3 percent used all three types of services.

4Comparisons were statistically significant at p < 0.05.

The content I just read:

Letters to the Editor