A recent study conducted by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute highlights significant gaps in mental health care access for children in the United States. The research indicates that while one in five households reported a child requiring mental health treatment, nearly a quarter of those children did not receive the necessary care. The findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, shed light on the ongoing challenges families face in obtaining mental health services.
The study utilized data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, covering the period from June 2023 to September 2024. It assessed the perceptions of families regarding their children’s mental health needs, the extent to which they received care, and the difficulties encountered in accessing such services. Out of the 173,174 households surveyed, approximately 20% reported a need for mental health treatment for at least one child.
Disparities in Access to Care
The research further revealed disparities in access to mental health care among different family structures. The lead author of the study, Alyssa Burnett, who is also a project manager at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, stated, “Nearly one quarter of parents in U.S. households with children reported that at least one of their children did not receive the mental health care they needed, underscoring persistent gaps in access.”
Burnett noted that single-parent households, those with multiple children, families with homeschooled children, uninsured households, and households reliant on Medicaid faced greater challenges in securing mental health services. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.
Despite growing awareness surrounding youth mental health needs, the study supports existing evidence that numerous external factors continue to hinder access to essential care. Senior author Hao Yu, an associate professor of population medicine at Harvard Medical School, emphasized the importance of implementing strategies to improve access. “Our analysis provides timely evidence that, despite the increasing awareness of youth mental health needs, access to necessary mental health care remains a challenge for a large number of U.S. households,” Yu remarked.
Calls for Policy Intervention
The study advocates for policies that enhance child mental health workforce initiatives and integrate mental health care into primary care settings. Such measures are crucial for removing barriers and ensuring that families can access the mental health services they require.
Overall, this research highlights the urgent need for systemic changes to bridge the gaps in mental health care access for children. By addressing the disparities identified in this study, policymakers and healthcare providers can work towards better supporting the mental health needs of children across the United States.
The full study, titled “U.S. Child Mental Health Care Need, Unmet Needs, and Difficulty Accessing Services,” is available in JAMA Pediatrics. The findings underscore a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and action.
