Mental Health Statistics on Youth
The 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) findings provide information on youth age 12 to 17. Estimates presented for youth include major depressive episode (MDE), treatment for depression among youth with MDE, and mental health service use, as well as measures related to the co-occurrence of mental disorders with substance use.
In 2009, there were 2.0 million youth (8.1 percent of the population age 12 to 17) who had MDE during the past year.
Illicit drugs. Among youth with past-year MDE, 35.7 percent used illicit drugs in the past year compared with 18.0 percent among youth who did not have past-year MDE (see chart).
Cigarettes. In 2009, youth who had past-year MDE were more likely to be daily cigarette users in the past month compared with those who did not have MDE in the past year (3.6 versus 1.9 percent).
Alcohol. Youth who had past-year MDE were more likely to be heavy alcohol users in the past month compared with young people who did not have past-year MDE (4.2 versus 1.9 percent).
In 2009, 2.9 million youth (12.0 percent) received treatment or counseling for problems with emotions or behavior in a specialty mental health setting (inpatient or outpatient care). The most likely reason for receiving services was feeling depressed (46.0 percent), followed by having problems with home or family (27.8 percent), breaking rules and “acting out” (26.1 percent), and thinking about or attempting suicide (20.7 percent).
Also, 12.1 percent (2.9 million youth) received mental health services in an education setting, 2.5 percent (603,000 youth) in a general medical setting, and 0.4 percent (109,000 youth) in a juvenile justice setting in the past 12 months.
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1Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used nonmedically.
Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (November 2010). Figure 4.12. Past-Year Substance Use among Youth Age 12 to 17, by Major Depressive Episode in the Past Year: 2009. Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings. Rockville, MD.
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