A new study has revealed that the percentage of children with public health insurance diagnosed with mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders increased significantly in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research, led by experts from Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, analyzed Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) data. It focused on nearly 30 million children aged 3-17 from 22 U.S. states between 2010 and 2019.
Published in JAMA on Thursday, the study shows that the percentage of children diagnosed with mental health disorders rose from 10.7% to 16.5% over the study period, a 6.7 percentage point increase after adjusting for population changes.
Lead author Janet Cummings, PhD, a professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, noted that the findings are concerning. “The size of the increase is alarming and clinically significant,” Cummings said. “It is even more concerning since the last year of our data is 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. We know from other sources that children’s mental health continued to worsen after the pandemic began.”
Key Findings
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The study revealed substantial increases in diagnoses across nine of the 13 diagnostic categories examined.
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The largest rises were seen in ADHD, anxiety, autism, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, and depression.
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These increases were observed across all demographic groups, including different ages, sexes, races, and living environments (urban, suburban, or rural).
Implications for Mental Health Support
The researchers stress the importance of addressing these rising diagnoses within the context of mental health systems, which have long been underfunded. Cummings emphasized that these systems must be adequately resourced to support children effectively. “Mental health is foundational to a child’s development,” she said. “Investment in mental health services for children with public insurance is essential for their well-being and long-term success.”
The study underscores the growing need for stronger mental health support systems to address the increasing diagnoses and ensure better outcomes for vulnerable children.
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