Researchers found that the number of children ages 3 to 17 years who were diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and those with depression by 27% between 2016 and 2020, in a study conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Importantly, the study found a notable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families. In the last two years of the study, unmet health care needs grew by 32% and reported behavior or conduct problems in children grew by 21%. In the announcement of the study, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlighted the need to support children and their families through access to health care services to help improve the overall mental and emotional wellbeing of these groups.
HHS Study Finds Increases in Child Mental Health Diagnoses from 2016 to 2020
