Mental Health Care Increasing Most among Those with Less Distress

Medical Xpress

People most in need of mental health care may not be receiving it, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data on 140,000 U.S. adults from 2004 to 2015. They found that the percentage of people receiving outpatient mental health care increased, while the percentage of those with serious psychological distress decreased. Adults with less serious psychological distress accounted for most of the increase in mental health care service use. Many factors can determine who accesses mental health care, including awareness, income, and insurance status. The researchers recommended that primary care physicians screen patients for serious psychological distress and refer those who need it to treatment.

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