Behavioral Health Statistics

A recent federal report provides both national and state-specific data on a number of behavioral health indicators, such as rates of substance use, depression, and treatment. The report, Behavioral Health Barometer, 2013, was prepared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Here are examples of Connecticut-specific information in the report (the following statistics reflect per-year averages from 2008 to 2012):

• About 7.2% of Connecticut youths ages 12 to 17 had at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the prior year.  60.7% of such youths suffering an MDE had received treatment for depression within the prior year.  An MDE is a period of at least 2 weeks when someone “experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had a majority of specified depression symptoms.”
• Among Connecticut adults who had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year, slightly less than half (46.8%) received counseling.
• Among Connecticut residents ages 12 or older, 8.3% were dependent on or abused alcohol within the prior year.