Reference page

Mental health and therapy statistics

Selected, citable figures on mental health care in the United States and California. This page is for writers, educators, and anyone looking for a clear starting point in the public data.

Last updated October 13, 2026. Data years vary by source and are shown with each figure.

What these numbers can and cannot say

Data can name a pattern. It cannot tell a whole person’s story.

Public-health surveys help show how many people seek care, how access is changing, and where there are gaps. They cannot capture whether care felt safe, affordable, culturally responsive, or right for an individual person. Definitions also differ across surveys, so figures from different sources should not be treated as interchangeable.

Each statistic below links back to its original public source. The short notes are included to make the numbers easier to cite responsibly.

23.0%

of U.S. adults received mental health treatment in 2023.

That is 59.2 million people. The survey counts outpatient or inpatient care, prescription medication for mental health, telehealth, and care in certain correctional settings.

Source: SAMHSA, 2023 ↓

12.1%

of U.S. adults received mental health treatment through telehealth in 2023.

That is an estimated 31.3 million adults, showing how virtual care has become one meaningful route into support.

Source: SAMHSA, 2023 ↓

53.9%

of adults with any mental illness received mental health treatment in 2023.

The same national survey estimated that 58.7 million adults experienced any mental illness that year. Treatment can take many forms, and this figure does not measure quality, fit, or continuity of care.

Source: SAMHSA, 2023 ↓

27.4%

of adults ages 18 to 25 received mental health treatment in 2023.

For adults age 50 or older, the comparable figure was 18.9%. These are treatment-use estimates, not rates of mental illness.

Source: SAMHSA, 2023 ↓

23.9%

of U.S. adults reported receiving mental health treatment in 2023, up from 19.2% in 2019.

This separate CDC survey uses its own definition of treatment, including therapy from a mental health professional or medication for mental health-related concerns.

Source: CDC, 2024 ↓

11.0

was California’s suicide rate per 100,000 residents in 2022.

The California Department of Public Health reported that the statewide rate had risen for two consecutive years, from 10.5 in 2020 to 10.6 in 2021 and 11.0 in 2022.

Source: California Department of Public Health, 2025 ↓

Methodology and sources

How this page is kept useful

This is a small, curated reference, not a clinical guide or a substitute for care. It uses public reports from government health agencies, favors the most recent published figure available in each source, and names the reporting year beside every statistic. It will be reviewed approximately monthly and refreshed when a core source publishes newer data.

Cite this page

Schotz, A. (2026, October 13). Mental health and therapy statistics. Avigail Schotz, M.A., LMFT. https://avigailschotz.com/mental-health-statistics

For a specific figure, link directly to its heading on this page and cite the original source listed above.

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