- More Americans report having unmet mental health needs, but a declining number say it’s because they can’t afford it, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. While affordability is still a top barrier to care, other obstacles are increasing.
- In 2018, about 5.8% of American adults believed they had an unmet need for mental health services during the past year—up from 4.7% in 2015.1,2 The rise was steepest among young adults ages 18 to 25, 12.7% of whom reported an unmet need for mental health services in 2018, up from 5.1% in 2015.
- People cited many reasons for not receiving needed services in 2018, including cost (39%), thinking they could handle the problem without treatment (26%), not knowing where to go for services (24%) and not having time (20%). Fewer people cited cost in 2018 than in 2008 (39% vs. 45%).3 All other reasons have increased since 2008, except concern about confidentiality.
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