Mental Health in 2022

Are you feeling emotionally and mentally drained as we head into 2022? If so, you are not alone. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 20% of Americans experienced mental illness. However, the stressors of the pandemic have exacerbated the situation. Not only did stressors lead to an increase in mental illness, but the pandemic also made it more difficult for some people to access mental health resources.

The 2022 State of Mental Health in America (MHA) report provides a snapshot of mental health in America. It confirms an alarming trend in mental health in 2022 in America, which is that mental health is on the decline. Another alarming trend is that the demand for mental health services has outstripped the supply. However, there are some promising policies, such as increasing mental health services in schools, which could help deal with these trends.

Some of the interesting things we gleaned from the MHA report are:

• More than half of all adults with an identified mental illness receive no treatment for that illness. Those numbers vary by state. In Hawaii, the state with the least access to mental health resources, 67% of people with mental illness do not get treatment, but even in Vermont, the best state in terms of mental illness, 43% of people do not get treatment. Not all of these people report a gap between their needs and available treatment, but over 24% of adults with mental illness say that they need treatment that is unavailable.
• Suicidal ideations have been increasing since 2011-2012. Currently 4.58% of adults report having serious thoughts of suicide.
• More young people are dealing with major depression, with over 15% of the nation’s youth experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the last year. More than 10% of youths have severe major depression. More than 60% of the youth with major depression do not get any treatment. Multiracial children are at the highest risk of major depression. Only 12% of youth with severe depression receive consistent care.
• Even with the Affordable Care Act, many people lack health insurance coverage that covers mental illness. More than 11% of people with mental illness lack insurance coverage that will cover their treatment.
• Both substance use and substance abuse are on the rise for adults and youth.

At Greater Essex Counseling Services, we know how important it is to provide consistent and reliable mental health services to people experiencing mental illness. If you believe you need counseling services, call to schedule an evaluation appointment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.