SAMHSA Releases 2021 Mental Health Client-Level Data on Clients Receiving Mental Health Treatment Services through State MH Agencies

Mental Health Client-Level Data (MH-CLD) are collected and reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) in collaboration with state mental health agencies (SMHAs). MH-CLD provides demographic, clinical, and National Outcome Measures (NOMs) data on clients receiving publicly funded mental health treatment services to behavioral health service providers; researchers; the public; and federal, state, and local governments. Key factors explored in SAMHSA’s 2021 “Mental Health Client-Level Data on Clients Receiving Mental Health Treatment Services Through State Mental Health Agencies” report include stability in housing/residential status, adult employment, and access to services/capacity.

Key findings included:

  • In 2021, 6,509,025 clients received MH treatment either provided by or funded by State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs).
    • 99.4% of youth were receiving treatment at community-based programs, and 97.1% of adults were receiving treatment at community-based programs.
  • Demographics by Age
    • 27% were children (age 0-17) and 73% were adults (over 18)
    • 75.2% of children receiving mental health treatment were in Grades 8 or lower.
  • Demographics by Gender
    • More boys under 18 (53.5%) received MH treatment compared to girls (46.5%); and this statistic reversed for adult populations, as more women (55.2%) received MH treatment compared to adult men (44.8%).
  • Demographics by Race/Ethnicity
    • Of children: The top two race groups were white (59.8%) and Black or African American (18.2%)
    • Of adults: The top two race groups receiving MH treatment were White (66.1%) and Black or African American (20.4%).
  • Demographics by Housing Stability
    • Among children: 92.6% lived in private residence, and 0.4% were experiencing homelessness.
    • Among adults: 83.5% lived in a private residence, and 5.5% were experiencing homelessness.
  • Demographics by Employment (adults)
    • 44.3% were not participating in the labor force; 29.7% were unemployed; and 25.8% were employed.
  • Demographics by Diagnosis
    • The most common diagnosis across all demographics was depressive disorders (31.6%), followed by anxiety disorders (26.6%).
    • The most common diagnosis for children receiving treatment was trauma and stressor-related disorders (31.4%) followed by attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (29.1%).
    • The most common diagnosis for adults was depressive disorders (36.1%) followed by anxiety disorders (28.3%).
  • 10 states (California, Pennsylvania, Arizona, New Jersey, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington, Maryland, and Iowa) accounted for 58.2% of all clients with MH diagnosis receiving treatment in 2021, highlighting possible disparities in access to care across the other 40 states and US Territories.