Nearly 4 million more Americans received mental health treatment last year than in 2022 as the opioid crisis persisted, a government report shows.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released its annual mental health and substance use report Tuesday. The agency, part of the Health and Human Services Department, based its projections on a national survey from 2023.
The agency found 8.3 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 self-reported getting psychological or psychiatric care in the past year, an increase of more than 500,000 from 2022.
Among adults, 59.2 million said they received mental health treatment in the past year, up 3.4 million from 2022.
“We’re pleased to see that more people received mental health treatment in 2023 than the previous year,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, HHS assistant secretary for mental health and substance use and the head of SAMHSA.
Most of the treatments unfolded in outpatient settings such as school counseling offices and therapist visits. The survey didn’t include the homeless, people living in institutions or those who didn’t admit to having problems.
The findings come as public officials have warned of a post-pandemic youth mental health crisis and elevated drug abuse among all ages since the end of COVID lockdowns.
In the survey, SAMHSA said the 8.9 million who admitted to misusing opioids last year was similar to the numbers in 2021 and 2022. Estimates of suicidal behavior among adults were likewise on par with those years.
Only about 1 in 4 people classified as needing substance abuse treatment said they got it in 2023.
Tim Jansen, head of a federal 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline center in Hyattsville, Maryland, said the findings show little change in a “loneliness epidemic” that has worsened since pandemic lockdowns.
“Things are not necessarily better,” Mr. Jansen, a licensed mental health counselor, said Wednesday. “Maybe leveling off, but still problematic.”
Other findings in the survey included:
Overall, 30.5 million adults admitted to ever having a substance abuse problem. Among them, 22.2 million said they were in recovery or had recovered.
An additional 64.4 million adults said they ever had a mental health issue, with 42.7 million saying they had recovered or were in recovery.
• Sean Salai can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.