On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Data Source: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS
Baseline: 70.7 percent of children aged 4 to 17 years with mental health problems received treatment in 2019
Target: 79.3 percent
Methodology
Questions used to obtain the national baseline data
From the 2019 National Health Interview Survey:
Numerator:
DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, have you seen or talked to any of the following health care providers about {ALIAS}'s health? A mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or clinical social worker?- I did not attempt suicide during the past 12 months
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
Denominator:
I am going to read a list of items that describe children. For each item, please tell me if it has been NOT TRUE, SOMEWHAT TRUE, or CERTAINLY TRUE for {sample child's name} DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS……is generally well behaved, usually does what adults request.
- Not true
- Somewhat true
- Certainly true
- Refused
- Don't know
- Not true
- Somewhat true
- Certainly true
- Refused
- Don't know
- Not true
- Somewhat true
- Certainly true
- Refused
- Don't know
- Not true
- Somewhat true
- Certainly true
- Refused
- Don't know
- Not true
- Somewhat true
- Certainly true
- Refused
- Don't know
- No
- Yes, minor difficulties
- Yes, definite difficulties
- Yes, severe difficulties
- Refused
- Don't know
Methodology notes
Children are considered to have received treatment based on the numerator questions if there is: 1) a "yes" response to the mental health specialist question, 2) a "yes" response to both the general doctor question and follow-up question regarding emotional or behavioral problems or 3) a "yes" response to both the Special Educational or Early Intervention Services question and follow-up question regarding emotional or behavioral problems. Children are considered to have had mental health problems if the response to the denominator question is Yes, definite difficulties or Yes, severe difficulties. For all questions, the parent responds as a proxy for the child.
History
In 2022, due to the 2019 NHIS redesign and survey question changes, the baseline was revised from 73.3% in 2018 to 70.7% in 2019. The target setting method was revised from projection to percentage improvement point. The target was revised from 82.4% to 79.3%. The questions for the prior decade are available under the Data Details section for MHMD-6 on the Healthy People 2020 archived website.