Mental health and substance use disorders are key public health issues and have received increased national attention in recent years. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing share of people report poor mental health and deaths due to drug overdose have reached record highs. Alongside these worsening issues, challenges with accessing mental health and substance use services have persisted. Poor mental health and barriers to care can vary geographically and by population characteristics. This page highlights relevant findings on the mental health landscape, including state-level data and analyses at the demographic level.
Featured Mental Health Resources
Jun 6, 2022
These FAQs review mental health and substance use disorder coverage and out-of-pocket costs in Medicare and discuss policy proposals related to coverage of mental health and substance use disorder treatments.
Related Mental Health Resources
Jun 22, 2022
As the federal government prepares to launch the national three-digit number “988” for the mental health crisis hotline in July 2022, this analysis shows that suicide death rates increased by 12 percent in the decade from 2010 to 2020 — with death rates rising the fastest among people of color, younger individuals, and people who live in rural areas. Suicide death rates in 2020 were highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people, males, and people who live in rural areas
June 22, 2022 Issue Brief
As the federal government prepares to launch the national three-digit number “988” for the mental health crisis hotline in July 2022, this analysis shows that suicide death rates increased by 12 percent in the decade from 2010 to 2020 — with death rates rising the fastest among people of color, younger individuals, and people who live in rural areas. Suicide death rates in 2020 were highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people, males, and people who live in rural areas
December 2, 2015 Issue Brief
In thousands of medically underserved communities across the U.S., community health centers enroll low-income people in health coverage and provide care to millions of patients. Against the backdrop of significant health center expansion over several years and a full year of expanded health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this brief examines change between 2013 and 2014 in the volume and health coverage profile of health center patients, and health center enrollment activities and service capacity, comparing states that implemented the ACA Medicaid expansion in 2014 and states that did not expand Medicaid in 2014. The study is based on data from the federal Uniform Data System and a 2014 national survey of health centers.
August 6, 2014 Issue Brief
Under the ACA, states have a new Medicaid option to establish “health homes” designed to improve care coordination and integration and reduce costs for beneficiaries with chronic conditions. Thus far, 15 states have implemented health home programs. Following on a 2012 brief profiling Medicaid health home programs in the first six states to adopt the option, this brief describes the health home programs in the nine states that have implemented them since that time, and highlights common themes across them as well as distinctions among them.
February 27, 2013 Poll Finding
The February Kaiser Health Tracking Poll focuses on some of the health policy implications of this winter’s national debate over gun violence, gun control and the adequacy of the nation’s response to the needs of those living with serious mental illness. The survey finds that one in five Americans have some connection to a victim of gun violence, a share that doubles to 42 percent among blacks.
November 27, 2017 Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides a description of nonelderly adults with mental illness and compares receipt of mental health services among nonelderly adults with Medicaid, private insurance, and no insurance.
June 14, 2017 Issue Brief
This analysis offers a window into how insurers could respond if the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits requirement is rolled back, a change being considered by Congressional leaders and allowed through state waivers by the House-passed American Health Care Act as a potential way for lowering premiums.
August 1, 2017 Infographic
This Visualizing Health Policy infographic looks at costs and outcomes of mental health and substance use disorders in the United States (US).
August 31, 2018 News Release
One in five Americans (22%) say they always or often feel lonely or socially isolated, frequently with serious consequences, finds a new Kaiser Family Foundation/Economist three-country survey examining loneliness and social isolation. Americans who feel lonely or socially isolated often report negative impacts on their mental (58%) and physical (55%) health, their…
August 23, 2018 Report
The Kaiser Family Foundation/Episcopal Health Foundation Harvey Anniversary Survey examines the views, experiences, and long-term recovery needs of vulnerable Gulf Coast Texans who were affected by Hurricane Harvey. This survey – a follow-up to a survey conducted by the partners 3 months after the storm – measures residents’ challenges with housing, financial assistance, health care, and mental health, as well as views on priorities and preparedness moving forward. It finds many challenges are especially salient for affected residents who are Black, Hispanic, or have lower incomes, as well as those who experienced major home damage or remain displaced from their homes.
November 17, 2017 Issue Brief
This issue brief provides a snapshot of key public health challenges in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. It discusses topics such as mortality, food, water, sanitation, health care infrastructure, and mental health on the island in the wake of the storm.
