Last updated: April 2024

Author: Vermont Department of Health, and Vermont Department of Mental Health

This data is in the analysis process. Please check back soon.

This indicator, or population measure, is part of our Healthy Vermonters 2030 data set. Read more about how this data helps us understand and improve the well-being of people in Vermont on the Healthy Vermonters 2030 webpage.

Because this data is meant to show how the health of our state changes during the decade from 2020-2030, some indicators may have very few data points for now. Keep checking back to see the progress our public health system and partners are making.

We want to see an increase in the percent of people who get needed treatment for mental health conditions by 2030. Historically, this measure has remained steady for over 10 years between 54% and 59%. Because the data source we are using for this measure changed between 2019 and 2022, we cannot directly compare it to previous data. As a result, the data can’t directly show us the impact of COVID during the period of the most immediate crisis. However, we can assume that the impact on mental health treatment was similar to other healthcare and became more difficult to access during that period.  

Looking for more data?

• See previous data similar to this indicator from the Vermont Department of Mental Health Scorecard.
• See the Mental Health America Access to Care 2022 data, which looks more holistically at nine different measures of access to mental health care. Vermont is ranked #1 across the nation.
• See the corresponding national Healthy People 2030 objective:  The proportion of adults who get treatment for serious mental illness (note the specific category of serious mental illness, which is different from our Vermont version of adults with any mental health condition).

Receiving treatment for mental health conditions is an important contributor to better overall mental and physical well-being. Whether adults are getting the treatment they need may have an impact on their success at work, their relationships at home as caregivers or family members, and their social participation in meaningful activities with friends and community. Based on the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System report, one in six Vermont adults reported poor mental health (16%). This is similar to the adults across the U.S. 

Understanding whether adults with mental health conditions across Vermont are receiving treatment can tell us about several things. Most directly, this can tell us whether people are getting treatment through our systems of care. And looking at this data alongside other measures can help us better understand whether people are seeking care, what kinds of people are getting care, what types of care people are accessing, and what the barriers are that prevent them from getting care.

Although we don’t have specific data to show whether different groups of people are having different experiences accessing and receiving mental health treatment, we do know about people experiencing poor mental health. Based on the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) report (pg. 24), one in six Vermont adults reported poor mental health (16%). However, that percent is very different among different groups of people.

The BRFSS data helps tell a more complete story about the mental well-being of adults in Vermont.  We know that younger adults are more likely than older adults to report poor mental health. And people with less education or lower household incomes report poor mental health at higher rates than adults overall. Also, populations that have historically been marginalized, and who currently experience oppression and discrimination in many parts of their lives are more likely to report poor mental health. 

Older adults (age 65+) are another group with specialized need for mental health care and overall mental health support. Within Vermont we have a large population of older adults, and even more people who will soon be part of that population. Isolation and loneliness are a concern for aging adults and are contributors to poor mental health and overall health and well-being. In Vermont our system of mental health care includes eldercare-specific clinicians in community mental health.

Because mental health impacts so many aspects of life, discrimination and oppression are an especially important consideration when working to increase and improve access to mental health treatment. Ensuring access to mental health treatment is equitable is an essential strategy to improve the overall well-being of people in Vermont. 

The Department of Mental Health along with the full system of partners and providers who provide a spectrum of mental health treatment services all have a role to play in increasing mental health treatment for adults. The network of Designated and Specialized Services Agencies, private mental health providers, and primary care providers offer services to Vermont adults with any mental health condition. Many of these entities are supported in different ways by the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Vermont Health Access, and the Department of Health.

There are several important ways to help us improve access to mental health treatment, reduce stigma, and remove barriers to effective care. One way is to ensure holistic and coordinated care through team-based care, Community Rehabilitation and Treatment Services, other community health supports, and the overall integration of mental health services into a holistic healthcare system. Another way is to increase community-based treatment options, peer support services, and workplace supports for good mental health. Also important is ensuring an adequate number of mental health treatment providers in Vermont.

This data comes from the Medicaid Claims, Vermont Health Care Uniform Reporting and Evaluation System (VHCURES).