In 2005, over 28 million adults in the United States reported receiving mental health treatment in the past year. Women represented approximately two-thirds of users of mental health services. The most common type of treatment obtained was prescription medication, followed by outpatient treatment. Almost 16 million women reported using prescription medication for treatment of a mental or emotional condition, representing 14.1 percent of women aged 18 and older, compared to 7.0 percent of men. Outpatient treatment was reported by 8.9 percent of women, and inpatient treatment was reported by 1.1 percent of women.

Mental health services are needed, but not received, by millions of adults in the United States. In 2005, 3.7 percent of women and 2.3 percent of men reported an unmet need for mental health treatment or counseling. Cost or no insurance was the most commonly reported reason for not receiving needed services, reported by 47.1 percent of women and 51.8 percent of men with unmet mental health treatment needs. Others mentioned feeling that they could handle their problems without treatment (reported by 34.3 percent of women and 28.8 percent of men with unmet needs). In addition, stigma, including concern about the opinions of others, effects on employment, or feelings of shame, embarrassment, or fear prevented 19.6 percent of women and 24.0 percent of men with unmet needs from receiving treatment.

> VERTICAL BAR CHART: Adults Aged 18 and Older Receiving Mental Health Treatment/Counseling by Sex and Type, 2005

> HORIZONTAL BAR CHART: Reasons for Unmet Mental Health Treatment Needs Among Adults Aged 18 and Older, by Sex, 2005