KFF February 2, 2024
Most Americans (90%) think we are in the midst of a mental health crisis, and trends in data support these opinions. Provisional data from 2022 indicate record numbers of suicides and drug overdose deaths—marking substantial growth in both over the past decade. Despite the escalation of mental health needs and the increasing and evolving opioid epidemic, accessing treatment continues to be difficult–as indicated by consumer surveys and national data. Factors like the decline in psychiatric beds, financing barriers, difficulty accessing outpatient treatment, and the growing workforce shortages have led to more reports of unmet needs and psychiatric boarding in emergency departments. This issue may be particularly acute among certain groups needing targeted care, such as youth and adolescents. Given that...
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