22.8%
of U.S. adults had any mental illness
That equals 58.7 million adults age 18 or older in 2023.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and HealthReference guide
U.S. adult mental health statistics.
Clear, citable 2023 data on mental health, treatment access, telehealth, and unmet need. This page uses the latest annual national survey results available from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Last updated September 8, 2026. Data year: 2023.
Key statistics
The 2023 picture, at a glance.
5.7%
of U.S. adults had serious mental illness
An estimated 14.6 million adults experienced serious mental illness in 2023.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health21.9M
adults had a major depressive episode
This represented 8.5% of adults age 18 or older in 2023.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health15.3M
adults had depression with severe impairment
This represented 5.9% of adults age 18 or older in 2023.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health59.2M
adults received mental health treatment
That was 23.0% of adults in 2023, across counseling, medication, telehealth, and other care settings.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health31.3M
adults received mental health care by telehealth
That was 12.1% of adults in 2023.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health53.9%
of adults with mental illness received treatment
Among the 58.7 million adults with any mental illness, 31.6 million received mental health treatment in 2023.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health27.1M
adults with mental illness received no treatment
Among adults with any mental illness in 2023, 6.2 million said they had an unmet need for mental health treatment.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health12.8M
adults had serious thoughts of suicide
In 2023, 3.7 million adults made a suicide plan and 1.5 million attempted suicide.
Source: SAMHSA, 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and HealthHow to read this page
These statistics describe a national need for accessible care.
These figures are national estimates, not a count of NorthStar patients or a measure of any one community. They help show the scale of adult mental health needs and the role that practical access to evaluation, medication support, counseling, and virtual visits can play.
The survey defines “any mental illness” as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that met defined criteria during the prior year. “Serious mental illness” refers to illness that substantially interfered with one or more major life activities. The federal survey notes that these estimates are based on a statistical prediction model, not direct clinical diagnoses.
Methodology and sources
About the data.
All statistics on this page come from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health annual national report. The survey reports nationally representative estimates for people in the United States. The figures above are limited to adults age 18 or older and refer to the 2023 survey year.
The next review is planned for October 2026, or sooner if the federal source releases a newer annual report. For urgent mental health or suicide concerns, call or text 988 in the United States.
Cite this page
Suggested citation.
NorthStar Behavioral Health. “U.S. Adult Mental Health Statistics: 2023 Data.” Updated September 8, 2026. https://northstarbehavioralhealth.org/mental-health-statistics