Mental health needs have risen sharply in recent years, and women have been especially affected. A 2022 survey by KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization, found that about half of women ages 18 to 64 said they needed mental health care in the previous two years, but many of them didn’t get it.
What the survey found
KFF’s Women’s Health Survey included more than 5,100 women and about 1,200 men between the ages of 18 and 64. Key findings included:
- Half of women needed care. About 50% of women said they needed mental health services in the past two years, compared with about 35% of men.
- Younger women were most affected. Nearly two-thirds of women ages 18 to 25 said they needed care, compared with about a third of women ages 50 to 64.
- Need was higher among women with lower incomes and those covered by Medicaid.
- Only about half got care. Of women who needed services, about half were able to get an appointment. About 10% tried but couldn’t, and about 40% didn’t try at all.
KFF noted that this suggests the other half of women who needed care may have unmet mental health needs.
Interestingly, among people who needed care, women and men sought it at similar rates, about 60% and 56%. The bigger difference was in how many said they needed help in the first place.
The barriers women face
- Too few providers. The U.S. faces a shortage of mental health professionals, and many aren’t accepting new patients.
- Long waits. Among women who got an appointment, about half were seen within a month, but more than a third waited longer.
- Cost and insurance. Cost was a common reason women couldn’t get care. About 2 in 10 privately insured women who got an appointment said their provider didn’t take their insurance.
Telehealth is helping
Virtual care has opened another door. About 60% of women had a telehealth visit in the previous two years, and for 17% of them the most recent visit was for mental health. About 69% of women who used telehealth for mental health said the quality was as good as an in-person visit.
Why unmet needs matter
Untreated anxiety, depression and other conditions affect relationships, work, physical health and quality of life. KFF noted that women are disproportionately affected by unmet mental health needs, which can ripple out to families and communities.
How to find mental health care
- Start with your primary care provider. Many can screen for anxiety and depression, start treatment and make referrals.
- Use your insurance tools. Your plan’s website or member services line can list in-network therapists and psychiatrists.
- Consider telehealth. Virtual therapy can mean shorter waits and fewer barriers like travel and childcare.
- Look for lower-cost options. Community mental health centers, university training clinics and providers with sliding-scale fees can reduce costs.
- Check your workplace benefits. Employee Assistance Programs often offer free, confidential counseling sessions.
- Ask about group therapy or support groups, which can be effective and more affordable.
- Get urgent help if you need it. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time.
The bottom line
About half of women said they needed mental health care in recent years, but only about half of them got it, often because of provider shortages and costs. Telehealth and other options are helping close the gap, and support is available.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your individual needs.
