Mental health statistics

  • 40.9% of Americans reported having a mental health or behavioral health condition as of June 2020, which went up from 20.6% in 2019 and 17.7% in 2008.1

  • In a comparison with 2019, Leeb et.al3 reported that hospital emergency departments treated 14% more cases of drug overdose, 6% more patients after a suicidal attempt, 24% more children, and 31% more adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis in 2020. Anxiety and depression spiked drastically in 2020, nearly three times and four higher respectively, than 2019.

  • The suicide hotline run by Substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration received 891% more calls in March 2020 compared to March 2019

  1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2019NSDUHFFRPDFWHTML/2019NSDUHFFR1PDFW090120.pdf

  2. Leeb RT, Bitsko RH, Radhakrishnan L, Martinez P, Njai R, Holland KM. Mental Health-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children Aged <18 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, January 1-October 17, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(45):1675-1680. Published 2020 Nov 13. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6945a3

  3. Levine, M. (2020, April 7). ABC News. Calls to US helpline jump 891%, as White House is warned of a mental health crisis.