Industry Facts
Why Behavioral Health Is a High-Need, High-Impact Investment
At-a-glance (United States)
1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness (2022): 59.3M people; among those with any mental illness, 50.6% received treatment.- Adults with any mental illness (2023): 22.8% (≈58.7M); serious mental illness: 5.7% (≈14.6M). 23.0% of all adults received mental-health treatment in 2023; among adults with AMI, 53.9% received care; SMI, 71.1%.
- Teens (2023): 18.1% (≈4.5M) had a major depressive episode; 13.5% had severe impairment.
- Access gap (HPSAs, as of Apr 1, 2025): 122,383,988 people live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas; the U.S. would need 6,202 additional mental-health practitioners to remove the designations.
- Workforce outlook (HRSA, Nov 2024): Projected 2037 shortages under HRSA’s Status Quo scenario include adult psychiatrists −43,660 (43% adequacy) and addiction counselors −113,930 (45% adequacy), with similar gaps for mental-health counselors and psychologists.
What the data say
Prevalence & Care Utilization (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2023)
- Any Mental Illness (AMI): 22.8% (≈58.7M).
- Serious Mental Illness (SMI): 5.7% (≈14.6M).
- Treatment: 23.0% of all adults received care; 53.9% of adults with AMI and 71.1% with SMI received treatment.
- Suicidality (adults): 12.8M had serious thoughts; 3.7M made a plan; 1.5M attempted in the past year.
Youth Need (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2023)
- Major depressive episode (12–17): 18.1% (≈4.5M).
- Severe impairment with MDE: 13.5% (≈3.4M).
NIH / NIMH roll-up (using 2022 NSDUH)
- Adults with AMI: 23.1% (59.3M).
- Treatment among AMI: 50.6%; SMI treatment: 66.7%. (NIMH statistics page updated to reflect 2022.)
Access & Workforce (HRSA)
- Where care is scarce (Quarterly HPSA report, data as of Apr 1, 2025): 122.38M people in mental-health HPSAs; 6,202 practitioners needed nationally to eliminate the shortage.
- Forward view (Report, Nov 2024): HRSA projects substantial behavioral-health workforce shortfalls by 2037 across psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and therapists.
Why this matters for franchisees
- Consistent demand, everywhere: With ~1 in 5 adults affected each year, behavioral-health need touches every community and payer mix—prime conditions for well-run, community-based clinics.
- Large treatment gap = growth runway: Even among adults with a diagnosable condition, roughly half receive care—leaving significant unmet demand for accessible, outcomes-driven services.
- Access deserts to serve now: Over 122M Americans live in shortage areas; expanding outpatient capacity (therapy, psychiatry, care coordination) directly improves access and positions operators for payer and referral partnerships.
- Workforce tailwinds for systems: Persistent clinician shortages favor organizations that recruit, supervise, and integrate care efficiently (e.g., collaborative care, stepped-care models).
Source list
- SAMHSA, National Survey on Drug Use and Health — 2023 Highlights (published 2024): prevalence, treatment, and suicidality. SAMHSA
- NIMH Statistics (using 2022 NSDUH): AMI/SMI prevalence and treatment rates. National Institute of Mental Health
- HRSA HPSA Quarterly Report (data as of Apr 1, 2025; report generated Aug 20, 2025): mental-health shortage population and practitioners needed. HRSA Data
- HRSA, State of the Behavioral Health Workforce (Nov 2024): 2037 workforce shortage projections. Bureau of Health Workforce
- U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on Youth Mental Health (Dec 6, 2021): context and quote. HHS.gov
- HRSA Administrator Statement (Mar 1, 2022): workforce expansion commitment. HRSA