Nearly 15 percent of U.S. children between 5 and 17 received mental health treatment in 2021, according to data released June 13 by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics that pulled from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey.
The research also found that 11.5 percent of children received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional, while 8.2 percent took mental health medication. Boys were more likely to take medication than girls, with 9 percent and 7.3 percent reporting taking medication, respectively.
18.9 percent of children between 12 and 17 received mental health treatment, compared to 11.3 percent of children between 5 and 11. Older children were also more likely to receive counseling and medication, with 14.6 percent and 10.7 percent of children between 12 and 17 receiving those treatments, respectively.