A new analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics finds that a substantial share of young adults who reported suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts in the previous year did not receive mental health care. The research highlights persistent gaps in access to and engagement with services for people ages 18 to 25.
What the study measured
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance examined responses to the 2022–2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which included more than 27,000 participants in the 18–25 age range. They report that roughly one in eight respondents disclosed suicidal ideation, planning or attempts within the prior 12 months. Among those, fewer than half reported receiving any form of mental health care during that period.
Why the findings matter
Those results underscore continuing challenges in reaching young adults at elevated risk for suicide. Healthcare access, stigma, fragmented services and uneven crisis response systems are among the commonly cited barriers that can prevent people from getting timely evaluation and treatment.
“It’s the second leading cause of death for those ages ten to 24,” said Amanda Nugent Divine, CEO of Kings View, characterizing the grave risk that suicide poses for younger cohorts.
Regional crisis response and demand
Community crisis providers described intense demand for services. Kings View, which operates crisis programs in parts of California’s Central Valley, reported receiving more than 24,000 calls in the last fiscal year — an average of about 3,500 incoming calls per month — illustrating the volume of acute needs local systems face.
- Sample size: more than 27,000 respondents aged 18–25.
- Prevalence: ~1 in 8 reported suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts in the prior year.
- Care gap: less than half of those individuals received any mental health services.
Consequences and context
Experts and crisis workers emphasize that early identification, rapid access to appropriate care and coordinated crisis response are critical to reducing suicide risk. Local providers also advise families and friends to look for warning signs — expressions of hopelessness or talk about death — while noting such statements are not determinative on their own.
The study does not provide causal explanations for why many young adults do not engage with services; it describes a pattern that should prompt further research and policy attention. Strengthening mental health infrastructure, expanding affordable care, and bolstering crisis-response capacity are among the approaches public health officials and advocates discuss to close the gap between need and treatment.
This report describes population-level survey findings and commentary from regional crisis providers; it does not offer individualized medical guidance. People in crisis should seek immediate help through local emergency services or crisis lines.
