Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of unmet need for mental health counseling among U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Data from the December 9-21, 2020, cross-sectional Household Pulse Survey (N=69,944) were analyzed.
Results: Overall, 12.8% of adults reported an unmet need for mental health counseling in the past month, including 25.2% of adults with a positive screen for depression or anxiety. Among adults with a positive screen, risk factors associated with an unmet need for mental health counseling included female sex, younger age, income below the federal poverty line, higher education, and household job loss during the pandemic, while protective factors included Asian and Black race.
Conclusions: Over one-quarter of U.S. adults with a positive screen for depression or anxiety experienced an unmet need for mental health counseling during the pandemic. Policy makers should consider increasing funding for mental health services as part of pandemic relief legislation.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; counseling; mental health; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; therapy; unmet need.