Mental Health-Related Emergency Department Visits

About

This page provides information on U.S. mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits among youth and adults. Data are available by age, sex, and race and ethnicity. Data on this page are updated monthly.
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What to know

  • People may visit the ED when they experience a sudden mental health crisis, have a mental or behavioral health concern, or have a diagnosed mental health condition that could be contributing to another reason for being in the ED.
  • ED data provides public health officials with a timely system for detecting, understanding, and monitoring health threats.
  • ED data can often be obtained in near real-time, much faster than other data sources. Tracking mental health trends using these data can give us early information about what is happening in communities related to mental health. Learn more about mental health-related ED visit data.
  • ED data on this page are displayed as rates. The rate explains the number of ED visits related to a specific mental health condition out of every 100,000 ED visits.

Overall mental health data

National: Mental health-related ED visit rates

Out of every 100,000 ED visits, 5,056 visits were related to mental health as of March 2025.

ED visits during public health emergencies

The proportion of mental health-related ED visits were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) than the periods before and after.1 Staying informed and connected can help build resilience during times of disasters or emergencies.

Anxiety data

National: Anxiety-related ED visit rates

Out of every 100,000 ED visits, 2,481 visits were related to anxiety as of March 2025.

Depression data

National: Depression-related ED visit rates

Out of every 100,000 ED visits, 1,535 visits were related to depression as of March 2025.

Youth mental health-related ED visits

CDC data describes increases in youth ED visits for select mental and behavioral health conditions during fall and spring school semesters.2 Factors such as physical activity and supportive home, school, and community environments, as well as other positive childhood experiences, can help improve youth mental health.

Trauma and stressor-related disorders data

National: Rates of ED visits related to trauma and stressor-related disorders

Out of every 100,000 ED visits, 397 visits were related to trauma and stressor-related disorders (e.g., traumatic stress, PTSD, adjustment disorder) as of March 2025.

Bipolar disorders data

National: Bipolar disorders-related ED visit rates

Out of every 100,000 ED visits, 439 visits were related to bipolar disorders as of March 2025.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders data

National: Schizophrenia-related ED visit rates

Out of every 100,000 ED visits, 407 visits were related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders as of March 2025.

Explore original data source tools

Design elements from CDC data systems.
CDC supports national and state level data systems to help us understand mental health in the U.S. This page features data excerpted from select systems.
  • National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) tracks symptoms and diagnoses of patients in EDs and other settings, in near real-time, so that public health officials can detect unusual levels of illness to determine whether a response is needed. Local and state health departments, CDC, and partners collaborate to collect and provide ED data.
Keep Reading: Mental Health Data Sources

Resources

Ready to take action?

CDC promotes a population health approach that addresses the drivers of well-being and mental distress. Individuals, organizations, and communities can adopt strategies to promote well-being and prevent mental health conditions before they develop or worsen.

Resources for Population Mental Health
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National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
  1. Holland K.M., Jones C., Vivolo-Kantor A.M., et al. (2021). Trends in US emergency department visits for mental health, overdose, and violence outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry. 78(4), 372-379. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4402
  2. Radhakrishnan L., Carey K., Pell D., et al. (2023). Seasonal Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions Among Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years — United States, January 2018–June 2023. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 72, 1032–1040. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7238a3.