80.5 percent
The percentage of health insurance coverage among adults (ages 18 to 64) with serious psychological distress, such as hopelessness and depression, in 2015, up from 71.9 percent in 2012. During this period, the Affordable Care Act was implemented.
16.7 percent
The percentage of adults with serious psychological distress who said they needed mental health care but could not afford it in 2015. This is a significant decrease from 28.4 percent in 2012.
86.6 percent
The percentage of adults with serious psychological distress who had seen or talked to any health-care professional within the last year. This did not differ significantly from 87.7 percent in 2012, despite the increase in insurance coverage.
34.2 percent
The percentage of adults with serious psychological distress who had talked to a mental health professional in 2015, down from 41.8 percent in 2012, despite the increase in insurance coverage. This may be because more people are getting mental health care through their primary-care providers, or because of a shortage of mental health care providers, but more research is necessary.
Source: "Access to care among adults aged 18-64 with serious psychological distress: Early release of estimates" from the National Health Interview Survey, 2012–September 2015, www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/er_spd_access_2015_f_auer.pdfopens in new window.