Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues
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.
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.
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
Nearly half (45%) of adults across the country say that worry and stress related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are hurting their mental health, an early sign that the health and economic crises is likely to increase mental health problems and further stretch the system’s capacity. A new issue brief…
This brief examines where the candidates stand on four key aspects of the nation’s mental health and substance abuse challenges: the opioid epidemic, suicide rates, mental health parity, and mental health workforce. On each issue, the brief summarizes the policy positions of President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
This summary examines key findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation and California Health Care Foundation California Health Policy Survey among low-income Californians. This brief examines the attitudes and experiences of low-income Californians with health care costs, access, and mental health services.
This report shows an increasing share of the public are frustrated about the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S.. The share of fully vaccinated adults who report receiving a booster dose has more than doubled in the last month, though vaccine uptake overall is little changed. The poll also explores attitudes towards federal mandates on workplace vaccinations and the pandemic’s toll on different groups.
Section 1115 demonstration waivers provide states an avenue to test new approaches in Medicaid and generally reflect changing priorities from one presidential administration to another. This issue brief summarizes waiver priorities and actions under the Biden Administration as well as pending waiver themes and other issues to watch. If the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) fails to pass or is narrowed significantly, Medicaid waivers and other administrative actions may be a key tool for the Biden Administration to advance policy priorities absent legislation.
The latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor finds that those hardest hit by the mental health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have been younger people and women, including mothers. This analysis of polling data explores who has been hardest hit by mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, how experience with COVID-19 related death and worry about getting sick impact mental health. It also explores problems with access to mental health care and treatment during the pandemic.
This analysis finds that before the pandemic, millions of adults reporting moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and/or depression were not receiving treatment. Receipt of mental health treatment was lowest among young adults, Black adults, men, and uninsured people.
This brief examines the implications of coronavirus-related social distancing practices and the current financial crisis on mental health, including challenges to accessing mental health or substance use services.
As the federal government prepares to launch the national three-digit number “988” for the mental health crisis hotline next month, a new KFF analysis shows that suicide death rates increased by 12 percent in the decade from 2010 to 2020 — with death rates rising fastest among people of color,…
Large Majorities across Parties Say Medi-Cal is Important to the State; Most Residents Say Program is Important to Their Families; Access to Care Remains a Challenge for Some Enrollees Californians rank making health care more affordable among their top overall priorities for the state’s new governor and legislature, with 45…
