Percentage of U.S. adults who felt there were select obstacles when seeking help or treatment for a mental health and/or substance use condition as of 2021
Characteristic
A very large obstacle
A somewhat large obstacle
Don't know/No opinion
Not too large of an obstacle
Not an obstacle at all
Cost of help or treatment
26%
25%
15%
18%
16%
Availability of providers who are taking patients, regardless of insurance
18%
23%
20%
21%
18%
Availability of providers taking patients within my insurance network
16%
23%
20%
21%
21%
Stigma associated with seeking help or treatment
16%
20%
18%
20%
27%
Availability of providers with reasonable wait times
13%
21%
19%
27%
20%
Travel distance to treatment
12%
19%
16%
27%
26%
Technology requirements to meet with a provider virtually, such as having a computer, smart phone, or other device
11%
15%
15%
23%
35%
Knowledge on how to use the technology necessary for a telehealth/virtual appointment
9%
18%
15%
26%
32%
Availability of providers who understand my culture
9%
13%
19%
22%
37%
Availability of providers who speak my language
7%
10%
15%
17%
51%
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The interviewees were asked the following question: "In your opinion,
how large of an obstacle, if at all, is each of the following to getting help, treatment or counseling for a mental health and/or substance
use condition?"
The source provides the following information: "the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points."
Citation formats
Share of U.S. adults facing barriers when seeking mental health treatment as of 2021
A survey conducted in the U.S. about the obstacles faced when seeking treatment for mental health and/or substance use as of 2021, showed that the majority of patients considered the cost of help and treatment a large obstacle. This graph shows the share of respondents who felt there were select obstacles when seeking mental health and/or substance use treatment in the United States as of 2021.
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Bipartisan Policy Center. (May 2, 2021). Percentage of U.S. adults who felt there were select obstacles when seeking help or treatment for a mental health and/or substance use condition as of 2021 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved August 05, 2026, from /statistics/1311355/share-of-respondents-facing-obstacles-seeking-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatments/
Bipartisan Policy Center. "Percentage of U.S. adults who felt there were select obstacles when seeking help or treatment for a mental health and/or substance use condition as of 2021." Chart. May 2, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed August 05, 2026. /statistics/1311355/share-of-respondents-facing-obstacles-seeking-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatments/
Bipartisan Policy Center. (2021). Percentage of U.S. adults who felt there were select obstacles when seeking help or treatment for a mental health and/or substance use condition as of 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 05, 2026. /statistics/1311355/share-of-respondents-facing-obstacles-seeking-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatments/
Bipartisan Policy Center. "Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Felt There Were Select Obstacles When Seeking Help or Treatment for a Mental Health And/or Substance Use Condition as of 2021." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 2 May 2021, /statistics/1311355/share-of-respondents-facing-obstacles-seeking-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatments/
Bipartisan Policy Center, Percentage of U.S. adults who felt there were select obstacles when seeking help or treatment for a mental health and/or substance use condition as of 2021 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1311355/share-of-respondents-facing-obstacles-seeking-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatments/ (last visited August 05, 2026)
Percentage of U.S. adults who felt there were select obstacles when seeking help or treatment for a mental health and/or substance use condition as of 2021 [Graph], Bipartisan Policy Center, May 2, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1311355/share-of-respondents-facing-obstacles-seeking-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatments/