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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase the proportion of children with mental health problems who get treatment — MHMD‑03 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

Baseline: 70.7 percent of children aged 4 to 17 years with mental health problems received treatment in 2019

Target: 79.3 percent

Numerator
Number of children aged 4 to 17 years with mental health problems receiving 1 or more forms of treatment.
Denominator
Number of children aged 4 to 17 years with mental health problems.
Target-setting method
Percentage point improvement
Target-setting method details
Percentage point improvement from the baseline using Cohen's h effect size of 0.20.
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were not available for this objective. A percentage point improvement was calculated using Cohen’s h effect size of 0.2. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline. The Healthy People 2030 Workgroup Subject Matter Experts viewed this as an ambitious yet achievable target due to national efforts underway to improve access to treatment for children with mental health problems.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2019 National Health Interview Survey:

Numerator:
DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, have you seen or talked to any of the following health care providers about {ALIAS}'s health? A mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or clinical social worker?
  1. I did not attempt suicide during the past 12 months
  2. Yes
  3. No
  4. Refused
  5. Don't know
{Do you/Does/Do any of these family members (fill roster of persons less than 18)} receive Special Educational or Early Intervention Services?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
{Do you/Does ALIAS} receive these services because of an emotional or behavioral problem?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
During the past 12 months, did {sample child's name} take any prescription medication to help with {his/her/their} emotions, concentration, behavior or mental health?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
During the past 12 months, did {sample child's name} receive counseling or therapy from a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or clinical social worker?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
Denominator:
I am going to read a list of items that describe children. For each item, please tell me if it has been NOT TRUE, SOMEWHAT TRUE, or CERTAINLY TRUE for {sample child's name} DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS…

…is generally well behaved, usually does what adults request.

  1. Not true
  2. Somewhat true
  3. Certainly true
  4. Refused
  5. Don't know
…has many worries, or often seems worried.
  1. Not true
  2. Somewhat true
  3. Certainly true
  4. Refused
  5. Don't know
…is often unhappy, depressed or tearful.
  1. Not true
  2. Somewhat true
  3. Certainly true
  4. Refused
  5. Don't know
…gets along better with adults than with other {children/youth}.
  1. Not true
  2. Somewhat true
  3. Certainly true
  4. Refused
  5. Don't know
…has good attention span, sees chores or homework through to the end.
  1. Not true
  2. Somewhat true
  3. Certainly true
  4. Refused
  5. Don't know
Overall, do you think that {sample child's name} has difficulties in any of the following areas: emotions, concentration, behavior, or being able to get along with other people?
  1. No
  2. Yes, minor difficulties
  3. Yes, definite difficulties
  4. Yes, severe difficulties
  5. Refused
  6. Don't know

Methodology notes

Children are considered to have received treatment based on the numerator questions if there is: 1) a "yes" response to the mental health specialist question, 2) a "yes" response to both the general doctor question and follow-up question regarding emotional or behavioral problems or 3) a "yes" response to both the Special Educational or Early Intervention Services question and follow-up question regarding emotional or behavioral problems. Children are considered to have had mental health problems if the response to the denominator question is Yes, definite difficulties or Yes, severe difficulties. For all questions, the parent responds as a proxy for the child.

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.
Revision History
Revised. 

In 2022, due to the 2019 NHIS redesign and survey question changes, the baseline was revised from 73.3% in 2018 to 70.7% in 2019. The target setting method was revised from projection to percentage improvement point. The target was revised from 82.4% to 79.3%. The questions for the prior decade are available under the Data Details section for MHMD-6 on the Healthy People 2020 archived website.