More teens in the U.S. are getting mental health support

In 2023, nearly a third of American adolescents received mental health treatment. This marks a significant increase in the number of young people getting the help they need.

Key Findings:

  • Increased Treatment:
    Over 8 million youths aged 12 to 17 received mental health counseling, medication, or other treatments in 2023. This is an increase from the 7.7 million who received treatment in 2022.
  • Medication Use:
    The number of teens receiving mental health medications rose to nearly 14% in 2023, up from 12.8% in 2022.
  • Destigmatization:
    Officials believe this rise in treatment reflects a decrease in the stigma around mental health care.

Trends Over Time:

  • The rate of adolescents seeking mental health support has steadily risen since 2009.
  • The survey methodology was updated in 2021, making recent increases even more noteworthy.

Mental Health Concerns:

  • Despite the rise in treatment, the rate of major depressive episodes among teens has remained steady at just over 18% since 2021.
  • A major depressive episode is defined as a period of depression lasting at least two weeks.

Substance Use Insights:

  • Alcohol Use:
    Alcohol consumption dropped slightly, with 47.5% of Americans reporting drinking in the past month, down from 48.7% in 2022.
  • Problem Drinking:
    Rates of binge drinking and heavy alcohol use remained largely unchanged, affecting 21.7% and 5.8% of the population, respectively.

This report highlights the ongoing need for mental health support among young people. The rise in treatment is a positive trend, but consistent efforts are necessary to address the mental health and substance use challenges facing adolescents today.