Increasing spending on children’s mental health

Increasing spending on children's mental health

The Pandemic’s Impact on Youth Mental Health: A Steep Rise in Mental Health Services Usage

The COVID-19 pandemic has left no aspect of our lives untouched, and its impact on the mental health of young people has been particularly significant. Recent research conducted by the RAND Corporation reveals a staggering rise in spending on mental health services for children and adolescents in the United States since 2020.

According to the study, mental health service utilization among youths aged 19 and younger saw a substantial increase of 26% between March 2020 and August 2022. Furthermore, among a large group of individuals covered by employer-provided insurance, there was a 22% rise in the utilization of mental health services. These numbers paint a vivid picture of the growing demand for mental health support among young people.

One significant factor that contributed to the increased access to mental health care during the pandemic was the surge in telehealth usage. The research findings indicate that the use of telehealth services for young patients skyrocketed more than 30-fold in the early days of the pandemic. Even as the situation improved, telehealth remained 23 times more popular than pre-pandemic levels by August 2022. In contrast, in-person care only reached 75% of its pre-pandemic levels by that time.

Lead author Mariah Kalmin, a policy researcher at RAND, emphasized the importance of telehealth care for pediatric patients. She stated, “Our findings suggest that telehealth care for mental health filled a critical need for pediatric patients after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to support a substantial proportion of pediatric mental health care.” This highlights the crucial role that telehealth played in ensuring children and adolescents could access necessary mental health support during a difficult time.

To conduct their study, researchers analyzed claims from health benefit manager Castlight Health, involving 1.9 million children and teens covered by commercial insurance from January 2019 through August 2022. Castlight manages insurance plans for approximately 200 employers across all 50 U.S. states. The researchers specifically examined common pediatric mental health diagnoses, including anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, and conduct disorder.

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The findings revealed a drop of 42% in in-person mental health services for kids and teens between March and December 2020. However, telehealth services helped bridge this gap, leading to an overall increase of 13% in mental health service utilization during that period. After December 2020, the researchers observed a gradual rise in spending rates for both in-person and telehealth care compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The study’s results, published in JAMA Network Open, have important implications for the future of telehealth. Kalmin stated, “As evidence increases that telehealth can effectively deliver mental health treatment for children and youths, these findings have important implications for telehealth sustainability beyond the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The surge in demand for mental health services highlights the need for continued access to quality care, including telehealth options.

Dr. Dena Bravata, a senior scientific advisor for apree health and a co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of addressing the mental health needs of children with conditions such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, and adjustment disorders. She stated, “The skyrocketing needs of children with mental health conditions are of particular importance to employers both because of the strain on employees who are caregivers to these children and the medical spending of these vulnerable dependents. Access to care for ADHD, anxiety, and adjustment disorders, in particular, are vital for the whole health of a household.”

The findings of this research shed light on the pressing mental health concerns among young people and the crucial role that telehealth plays in addressing these needs. As we move forward, it is essential to prioritize access to mental health services for children and adolescents, ensuring that they receive the care and support necessary for their well-being.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on children’s mental health.

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