Co-occurring mental health disorders common in those receiving services

Twenty-five percent of individuals receiving mental health treatment services in 2014 had co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, according to national survey findings.

To characterize mental health services provided in the U.S., researchers conducted the 2014 National Mental Health Services Survey from April 2014 through January 2015. Data were collected via web-based or paper questionnaires and telephone interviews from psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals with a separate inpatient psychiatric unit, Veterans Administration medical centers, outpatient or day treatment facilities, residential treatment centers for children or adults, multi-setting mental health facilities and community mental health centers. Department of Defense military treatment facilities, individual private practitioners or small practices not licensed as a mental health clinic and jails were excluded.

Overall, 34% of facilities were outpatient mental health facilities.

Most facilities were privately operated (82%) and accepted Medicaid (87%) or cash or self-payment (82%).

Fifty-eight percent of facilities offered exclusively designed treatment programs or groups for individuals with serious mental illness and for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (53%).

Approximately half of facilities reported they utilized a crisis intervention team for acute mental health issues.

Males made up 58% of individuals receiving inpatient services; 61% of individuals receiving residential treatment services; and 51% of individuals receiving outpatient services.

Among individuals who received 24-hour hospital inpatient mental health services, 13% were aged younger than 18 years; 73% were aged 18 to 64 years; and 14% were aged 65 years and older.

Among individuals who received 24-hour hospital residential mental health services, 45% were aged younger than 18 years; 50% were aged 18 to 64 years; and 5% were aged 65 years and older.

Among individuals who received 24-hour hospital outpatient mental health services, 29% were aged younger than 18 years; 61% were aged 18 to 64 years; and 10% were aged 65 years and older.

– by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

Reference:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS): 2014. Available at: https://www.samhsa.gov. Accessed January 10, 2016.