We want the percent of adults receiving mental health to increase when it is needed

This is a Vermont Department of Health Healthy Vermonters 2030 indicator.

Author: Vermont Department of Mental Health

Up until 2019, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported data on mental health treatment in Vermont from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Since 2019, the data for this indicator has not been reported. The Department of Mental Health and the Department of Health are currently working together to get more accurate Vermont data from the Vermont Health Care Uniform Reporting and Evaluation System (VHCURES).

Despite our lack of new Vermont data from NSDUH, we know that nationally more adults are seeking mental health treatment. From 2019 to 2023, the percentage of adults who reported that they have received counseling from a mental health professional increased from 9.5% to 13.4% (select the topic "Counseled by a mental health professional" to see this data). Historically, more Vermont adults received mental health treatment than both the regional and national averages. Between 2017-2019, the annual average percentage of mental health service use among Vermont adults was higher than both the regional (58.7% versus 51.0%) and national (58.7% vs. 43.6%) averages. Data sources, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Uniform Reporting System (URS), show that Vermonter's use of community mental health services is higher than national averages (40.6 per 1,000 people vs. 23.5 per 1,000 people in 2022). Additionally, according to results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), Vermont adults (ages 18 and older) received mental health services in the past year more than the national rate (32.3% vs. 21.7%) in 2022.

The Vermont Agency of Human Services is currently using this scorecard to assess our agency's contribution to increasing the rate of mental health treatment in Vermont, and to keep track of key data elements to guide our efforts. One agency cannot turn the curve alone; there are many partners who have a role to play making a difference.

Updated September 2024

There are many partners in Vermont who contribute to this effort. Vermont's Designated and Specialized Services Agencies, private mental health providers, primary care providers offer services to Vermont adults with any mental health condition. Families, friends, and communities who support and empathize with those with mental health conditions reduce stigma, which is a barrier to treatment. Peer support work through wellness cooperatives and advocacy groups help those in need of treatment navigate a system with support.

Similar to statewide efforts, partners agencies and providers use data to drive local strategy.

For Vermont data on health indicators, please see America's Health Rankings-Vermont.

Percentages are taken from the SAMHSA Behavioral Health Barometer: Vermont, Volume 6, and 2019 is the most recent data available. More recent Behavioral Health Barometer reports no longer include data on mental health treatment. You can find the most recent Behavioral Health Barometer on their Volume 7 report page (Vermont is part of SAMHSA Region 1). Additional SAMHSA reports are available on the SAMHSA reports page.

Any mental illness (AMI) is defined in NSDUH as adults aged 18 or older who currently or at any time in the past year have had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder (excluding developmental and substance use disorders) of sufficient duration to meet DSM-IV criteria. AMI estimates are based on a predictive model applied to NSDUH data and are not direct measures of diagnostic status. Adults estimated as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year, regardless of their level of functional impairment, were defined as having AMI.

Mental health service use is defined in the NSDUH for adults aged 18 or older as receiving treatment or counseling for any problem with emotions, nerves, or mental health in the 12 months before the interview in any inpatient or outpatient setting, or the use of prescription medication for treatment of any mental or emotional condition that was not caused by the use of alcohol or drugs.

Data are based on NSDUH survey results. Estimates are annual averages based on the combined 2017-2019 NSDUH data. Respondents were not to include treatment for drug or alcohol use. Those with unknown service use information were excluded. Estimates were based only on responses to items in the NSDUH Adult Mental Health Service Utilization module.