2026Behavioral Health S E R V I C EL I N E I N T E L L I G E N C E R E P O R T I N T R O D U C T I O N R E P O R T R O A D M A P Analyzing Behavioral Health Trends Introduction2Methods7Executive Summary8 For all these reasons, the behavioral health crisis isAmerica’s preeminent public health challenge. Meaningfuladvancements in prevention, early identification, access andadherence to evidence-based treatment would have anoutsized impact on health outcomes, quality of life,healthcare spending and workforce productivity. Addressingthe behavioral health crisis demands urgent, coordinatedaction from every health economy stakeholder–patients,providers, life sciences, payers and policymakers. The ongoing behavioral health crisis–encompassing mentalillness and substance use disorders–is one of the mostpervasive and unresolved healthcare issues in the UnitedStates. Nearly one in four American adults lives with amental illness, and more than 48,000 people die by suicideeach year. Collectively, behavioral health conditions are aleading driver of disability, lost productivity and prematuredeath across every demographic group. Demand Prevalence13Treatment20Mortality22Utilization28 The economic burden is equally staggering. The total cost ofbehavioral health conditions in the U.S., including healthcareutilization, lost wages, criminal justice encounters andpremature death, exceeds $300B annually, with someestimates placing the true figure considerably higher. The purpose of this report is to identify the most importanttrends in behavioral health and to stimulate a data-drivendiscussion about the most important issues. In particular: Supply47Providers49Investment and Technology60 •Where are the gaps in prevention and earlyintervention, and what will it take to close them? Emerging trends–including rising rates of anxiety anddepression among adolescents, growing social isolation andthe lingering effects of the governmental and societalresponse to the COVID-19 pandemic–suggest that thebehavioral health crisis will likely intensify and increasinglyaffect younger populations. •How can this data be used to expand access toevidence-based care for the populations with thehighest need? Spending67Policy69Price71Value75 •What role does your organization play in addressing thestructural barriers–cost, workforce shortages andcoverage gaps–that prevent people from gettingcare? Importantly, many behavioral health conditions are treatable,and early intervention can significantly alter long-termoutcomes. Yet access to care remains challenging: morethan half of adults with a mental illness do not receivetreatment, driven by provider shortages, cost, social stigma,fragmented care systems and coverage gaps. •How will you measure and demonstrate “value formoney” for the individuals and communities yourorganization serves? Conclusion77 Demand •How are behavioral health prevalence and mortality changing?•How does behavioral health impact different patient populationsand how is this changing?•How is behavioral health medication use changing? Key ResearchQuestions The health economy creates more data than any other part of theU.S. economy, but policymakers and executives have beenchallenged to analyze and interpret the data thoroughly and quicklyenough to adapt to constant rooted in flawed information thatassumes the status quo.change. Stakeholders are satisfied with“anecdata” and surveys about what executivesthink will happeninstead of demanding data that is objective and representative ofwhatis happeningin the market.As a result, myriad stakeholderscontinue to make decisions rooted in flawed information thatassumes the status quo. Supply •What are the trends in behavioral health provider supply?•How are novel treatment paradigms and technologies influencingthe behavioral health market? This report provides nationally representative research andlongitudinal insights to connect the dots across the healtheconomy.The first step in delivering value for money in thehealth economy requires data-driven strategies. Yield •How does behavioral health impact overall healthcare costs? •What is the policy landscape in behavioral health?•How do prices compare for common behavioral health services? I N T R O D U C T I O N Behavioral Health Encompasses Several Conditions A Framework for Understanding Behavioral Health I N T R O D U C T I O N Factors That Will Impact the Future of Behavioral Health Risk Factors Prevention Behavioral Health Outcomes Treatment •Psychological(e.g., beliefs, coping skills,cognitive bias)•Environmental(e.g., social media)•Social(e.g., upbringing, family/peerrelationships, media, culture, traumas)•Biological(e.g., genetic, physical health)•Health literacy(e.g., screening behavior) •Accessibility•Change in cost•Effectiveness •Incidence rates•Screening costs•Treatment costs•Resource needs•Life expectancy•Deaths •Screening•Lifestyle modifications•Exposures I N T R O D U C T I O N Applying a