During 2016–2018, there were 43.9 emergency department visits per 1,000 persons per year with a diagnosis of a mental health disorder. Rates were lowest among children and adolescents aged <18 years (12.8) and highest for adults aged 18–44 years (64.9). Rates declined with age for adults aged 18–44 to ≥65 years (32.2). Overall and for each age group, there were no statistically significant differences by sex.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2016–2018. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ahcd/ahcd_questionnaires.htm.
Footnotes
Visit rates are based on the July 1, 2016–July 1, 2018, estimates of the civilian noninstitutionalized population as developed by the U.S. Census Bureau Population Division; 95% confidence intervals are indicated with error bars.
† Visits related to mental health disorder are defined as all emergency department visits with any listed diagnosis of a mental health disorder, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes F01–F99.
§ Based on a sample of visits to emergency departments in noninstitutional general and short-stay hospitals, exclusive of federal, military, and Veterans Administration hospitals, that are located in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.