National Poll: More Than 1 In 4 Parents Say Their Adolescent Has Seen a Mental Health Specialist

Amid growing concerns for children’s mental health during the pandemic era, more than a quarter of parents say their adolescent-aged child has seen a mental health specialist—with nearly 60% of those reporting a visit within the past year—a new national poll suggests. The findings come from a nationally representative report from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital Association.

The report, Parent Views on Addressing Mental Health Concerns in Adolescents, comes less than a year after children’s mental health was declared a national emergency in the U.S. The survey is based on responses from 1,201 parents of children ages 11-18 surveyed in October 2021. Read the national press release.