Trends in mental health service use by age among adults with serious mental illness

Abstract Purpose This study examines trends in mental health service use among 18- to 64-year-old adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Methods Data are from approximately 22,200 adults with SMI who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual nationally representative survey of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. A regression restricted spline modeled the trend in mental health service use by age among adults with SMI. Results Approximately 20 to 50% of adults with SMI did not receive past-year mental health services. The odds of past-year service use increased by 3% per year until age 52 years. Conclusions From age 18 to 52 years, age incrementally increases the likelihood that an adult with SMI makes treatment contact.