Mental & Behavioral Health
In 2022-2023, the percentage of children with a mental and/or behavioral condition rose 2 percentage points.
Unfavorable movement since the last available data
Benchmark: The share of Maine children with a diagnosed mental and/or behavioral condition will decline over time.
Overview
Mental and behavioral health plays an important role in how children learn, grow, form relationships, and handle stress. It influences their overall health and well-being, and their future conduct as employees, parents, and community members.
In 2022-2023, an estimated 35% of Maine children had a diagnosed mental, emotional, and/or behavioral condition such as anxiety, depression, a learning disability, or autism.* This was up from 26% in 2017-2018 and significantly higher than the U.S. average of 26%. In 2023, 35% of Maine high schoolers reported feeling sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or more. According to the Maine Children’s Alliance, “teen mental health is a growing crisis in the state and the nation.”
Many older Mainers are also experiencing challenges. Mental wellness impacts individuals’ quality of life and their activities at home, at work, and within their communities. In one recent survey, 18% of Maine adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. An equal percentage of adults nationwide reported these symptoms — up from just 11% in 2019. Maine saw record drug-related deaths in recent years. Although the numbers are declining, the impacts of substance use ripple through households, schools, and communities.
* Diagnoses are reported by parents and include anxiety, depression, behavior and conduct problems, developmental delay, intellectual disability, speech or language disorder, learning disability, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Tourette Syndrome.
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