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North Dakota Value:
Percentage of children ages 12-17 who receive needed mental health treatment or counseling (2-year estimate)
North Dakota Rank:
Percentage of children ages 12-17 with special health care needs who receive needed mental health treatment or counseling (2-year estimate)
93.3% - 89.4%
89.3% - 87.5%
87.4% - 85.4%
85.3% - 81.4%
81.3% - 69.4%
US Value: 83.3%
Top State(s): Virginia: 93.0%
Bottom State(s): Florida: 70.2%
Definition: Percentage of children ages 12-17 who receive needed mental health treatment or counseling (2-year estimate)
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National Survey of Children's Health, 2023-2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National Survey of Children's Health, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Mental health is an important component of overall health. Mental health disorders among children can impact the way children learn and handle their emotions. Issues that can be diagnosed during childhood and adolescence include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and others. Early diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions among children is vital to ensuring they don’t have problems at home, in school or forming friendships.
Childhood mental health disorders can be treated and managed. Treatment works best when parents and doctors work closely with teachers, coaches, therapists and anyone involved in the child’s life. According to CDC data from 2021-2023, more than half (55%) of adolescents reported discussing their mental and emotional health with a healthcare professional, and 20% reported receiving mental health therapy.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of mental health treatment is higher among:
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends universal, targeted, group and/or individual school-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs to help prevent and reduce anxiety and depression among school-aged youth. Trained school staff (mental health professionals, nurses or teachers) or external mental health professionals (psychologists or social workers) can facilitate programs to help students develop problem-solving strategies, regulate their emotions and establish healthy coping behaviors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of resource locators to help parents find the right mental health services for their children, and an action guide of strategies to support mental health in schools.
Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to treating mental health conditions among children, including:
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
