Mental health is an essential
component of overall health and well-being and can affect children’s behavior, learning and emotional development. Mental health conditions — including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and anxiety — are increasingly common among children across the United States.
Early diagnosis and access to care are critical to helping children manage these conditions and avoid challenges at home, school and relationships. Data can help spotlight opportunities to strengthen access to care and support children and families. According to
America’s Health Rankings® data, 20.5% of children ages 3-17 in the United States were
diagnosed with a mental health condition in 2023-2024. In North Carolina, the percentage was higher: 23.3% of children were diagnosed with a mental health condition during the same period, placing
North Carolina at No. 32 in the nation.
Access to evidence-based mental health services can improve early diagnosis and treatment. Expanding access to care, particularly in rural communities where behavioral health providers may be limited, can help ensure children and families receive timely support when needed.
Access to Mental Health Treatments and Providers in North Carolina
Though need for children’s mental health services spans the country, access to treatment can vary depending on where they live. According to
America’s Health Rankings, the percentage of
children receiving treatment for mental health conditions differs between states. Nationally, 83.3% of children ages 12–17 received needed mental health treatment in 2023-2024, with
North Carolina ranking No. 30 (84.3%) on this measure. Across states, the percentage of children receiving needed mental health treatment ranged as high as 93% in Virginia to as low as 70.2% in Florida.
Access to care is closely tied to the availability of mental health providers, such as psychiatrists, psychologists and other licensed mental health providers. While the overall number of
mental health providers across the United States (362.6 providers per 100,000 population in September 2025) has increased over time, including in
North Carolina (365.8 in September 2025), these resources are unevenly distributed across states and communities.
North Carolina reflects a broader
rural challenge, where children face barriers to timely mental health care due to provider shortages and geographic distance.
How a United Health Foundation Grant Partnership Is Improving Access to Childhood Mental Health Services
To help address gaps in access to childhood mental health care, the United Health Foundation has partnered with
East Carolina University's Center for Telepsychiatry and e-Behavioral Health to expand mental health services for children and adolescents in rural and underserved areas of North Carolina.
This
partnership expands the North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP), which connects more than 50 hospital emergency departments, primary care clinics and health departments across the state with psychiatrists and behavioral health managers who provide assessments and consultations through telemedicine.
The expansion of the NC-STeP-Peds model embeds licensed behavioral health providers in five community-based pediatric clinics and connects children and families with a virtual-reality peer support community and an AI-driven knowledge management portal. This equips pediatric practices to conduct universal screening, which are followed by referrals, telepsychiatry sessions and virtual psychiatric evaluations.
As of September 2026, the program provided over 55,500 screenings to children, with 849 children receiving integrated care, which includes a consultation with a behavioral health provider. Over 2,200 patients’ visits have been completed by the program, and over 400 children in the program have also been seen by a board-certified child psychiatrist.
By integrating behavioral health screening and psychiatric consultation into pediatric clinics, programs like NC-STeP can help identify mental health conditions early and connect children and families with appropriate care and support.
“Mental health is fundamental to a child’s overall health. By embedding telepsychiatry and behavioral health support within pediatric practices, this program helps identify needs earlier, reduce stigma and ensure children receive the care they deserve.
For families navigating mental health concerns, timely support can change everything. This program ensures help is not a distant promise, but a real presence in a child’s everyday care.”
Sy Saeed, MD, MS
ECU Center for Telepsychiatry and Founding Executive Director of NC-STeP
Explore State-Level Data on Childhood Mental Health
America’s Health Rankings data show that childhood mental health outcomes and access to care often vary significantly by state. Detailed demographic and geographic data can help health leaders and policymakers identify gaps and take action to improve health outcomes in their communities.
Explore mental health data in your state:
For more information on childhood mental health, explore North Carolina’s data from the 2026 Health of Women and Children Report.
Relevant Links and Resources
