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US Kids Face Mental Health Care Gaps
19 Feb
Summary
- Nearly a quarter of children needing mental health support are not receiving it.
- Homeschooled children and those on Medicaid face significant access barriers.
- Integrating mental health into primary care could improve access for youth.
A concerning analysis reveals that the U.S. mental health system is failing a substantial portion of children. Researchers found that approximately 1 in 5 households have a child in need of mental health support, yet nearly 25% of these children do not receive the care they require. This situation is ongoing as of February 19, 2026.
Several factors contribute to these unmet needs. Families with multiple children and single-parent households experience greater difficulties in navigating the healthcare system. Homeschooled children, likely due to a lack of school-based counselors, show higher rates of unmet needs. Financial barriers, particularly for families on Medicaid or without insurance, are a significant obstacle, with about 40% reporting inability to access care due to cost or difficulty.
Minority racial and ethnic groups also face higher rates of unmet needs compared to non-Hispanic white households. However, Black households reported slightly less difficulty accessing care than white households. Experts, including those from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, advocate for integrating mental health care into primary care settings and supporting child mental health workforce initiatives at the state level to dismantle these barriers.
