Women in the United States are nearly twice as likely as men to take prescription medication for mental health and significantly more likely to receive counseling or therapy, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

The findings, published June 25, 2026, as NCHS Data Brief No. 564, come from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey and note differences in how men and women seek mental health care.

In 2024, 19.3% of U.S. adults reported taking medication for their mental health in the past 12 months, while 14.0% received counseling or therapy. Women reported much higher rates: 24.9% took medication compared to 13.4% of men, and 16.9% received therapy compared to 10.9% of men. 

New CDC Report Highlights Gender Gap

The report, titled “Mental Health Treatment Among Adults: United States, 2024,” was released by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Women were more likely than men to take medication for mental health and to receive counseling or therapy, the report states.

The gap was largest in medication use, where nearly one in four women reported taking prescription drugs for anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

Broader Context on Mental Health Care

The CDC data reflect self-reported information from a nationally representative sample of civilian, noninstitutionalized adults. Mental health treatment includes prescription medication and counseling or therapy from a mental health professional.

This release arrives as families and policymakers continue to focus on mental health access and outcomes. The report does not examine underlying causes or treatment effectiveness but provides a clear snapshot of utilization patterns in 2024.

Previous NCHS reports have shown rising mental health treatment rates in recent years, especially among younger adults. The 2024 data continue to document higher treatment rates among women.

Men’s Mental Health Treatment Rates

Men’s rates of mental health treatment have also increased in recent years, though they remain lower than women’s.

From 2019 to 2021, the percentage of men aged 18–44 who received any mental health treatment rose from 13.1% to 17.8%.

In 2024, 13.4% of adult men reported taking prescription medication for mental health, and 10.9% received counseling or therapy.

Children’s Mental Health Treatment Rates

Mental health treatment among children remains significant. The most recent detailed national data available show that in 2021, 14.9% of U.S. children ages 5–17 received mental health treatment in the past 12 months.

This included 8.2% who took prescription medication and 11.5% who received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional. Older children (ages 12–17) were more likely to receive treatment (18.9%) than younger children (ages 5–11) at 11.3%.