Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in demand for behavioral health services, with visit volumes rising by more than 20%. This surge in behavioral health care trends is mainly driven by a sharp increase in the prevalence of mental health conditions, particularly anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use disorders, as revealed in the 2023 Trends Shaping the Health Economy report by Trilliant Health. The report notes that visits for anxiety disorders alone spiked by 44.9% from 2019 to 2022, signaling a significant shift in the mental health landscape. This growing demand for behavioral health services contrasts sharply with a decline in primary care visits, signaling a critical shift in the ways people are seeking health care.
While behavioral health care trends have shown an overall uptick in visits, some conditions, such as schizophrenia and ADHD, have experienced slight dips in care. Despite these fluctuations, the broader trend indicates that behavioral health needs are expanding, with overall visit volumes continuing to rise. Between 2021 and 2022, behavioral health care visits grew by 2.8%, while the volume of all other health care visits fell by 0.4%. This marks a turning point in the healthcare system, one where mental health care demands are becoming a central focus in ways not seen before.
The Impact of the Pandemic on Behavioral Health
The pandemic’s toll on mental health is undeniable, and its lasting effects are still unfolding. As social isolation, financial stress, and concerns about health have weighed heavily on individuals, behavioral health conditions have become more prevalent across all age groups. However, it is the youth population that has borne the brunt of this crisis. The surge in eating disorders and depression among young people has been particularly striking. Visits addressing eating disorders among youth have risen by more than 90%, and depression visits have increased by nearly 40%.
Experts, including Sanjula Jain, Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health, argue that these alarming increases are driven by multiple factors, including the heightened use of social media and the abrupt changes in social interactions brought about by the pandemic. As schools transitioned to virtual learning, and social lives moved online, many young people found themselves navigating a new, often overwhelming social landscape. This shift in daily life, coupled with increased digital exposure, has been a perfect storm for rising mental health concerns, particularly among the younger generation.
Jain further suggests that these growing trends necessitate a more nuanced, data-driven understanding of behavioral health, especially in relation to youth. By analyzing local data, such as ZIP code-level information, healthcare providers could gain deeper insights into current provider shortages and accurately project future needs. This kind of targeted analysis would allow for more effective strategies to address these issues, ensuring that services are available where they are needed most.
The Growing Gap Between Demand and Provider Supply
While the demand for behavioral health services continues to rise, there is growing concern that the supply of qualified providers will not meet future needs. Projections suggest that by 2035, adult psychiatry will only meet 69.3% of the total demand. While the adequacy of psychiatric nurse practitioners is expected to exceed the demand by 212.4%, this is not enough to bridge the gap for MD/DO psychiatry, which is anticipated to remain below 100% of the demand.
This shortage of behavioral health professionals is a major concern for the future of mental health care. As demand continues to grow, the supply of providers—especially psychiatrists—will fall further behind. The problem is exacerbated by an aging workforce, with many current providers nearing retirement. To address these issues, healthcare leaders must consider innovative solutions that include expanding the workforce, leveraging telehealth, and reimagining care delivery models to better match supply with demand.
One potential solution could be to better utilize data to anticipate provider shortages in specific regions. By understanding local needs more precisely, strategies could be developed to recruit and retain mental health professionals in high-need areas. Targeted interventions, such as offering incentives to providers who choose to practice in underserved regions, could go a long way in addressing these gaps.
Telehealth as a Partial Solution in Behavioral Health Care Trends
In response to these provider shortages, telehealth has emerged as a critical tool in increasing access to care. Behavioral health services have made up the majority of telehealth visits in recent years. In the fourth quarter of 2022, behavioral health accounted for a staggering 62.8% of all telehealth appointments, reflecting the growing reliance on virtual care. This trend highlights how telehealth can bridge some of the gaps caused by the shortage of in-person providers, making it easier for patients to access the care they need from the comfort of their homes.
However, while telehealth has proven invaluable, it is not a perfect solution. Despite the convenience it offers, many patients still prefer to follow up with in-person visits. In fact, 56.5% of patients who initially engage in telehealth for behavioral health concerns end up seeking in-person follow-up care within three weeks. This preference for face-to-face interactions reflects a growing recognition that, while virtual visits are effective for some aspects of care, more intensive treatment and relationship-building are often better achieved in person.
Behavioral health providers are finding that a blended approach, utilizing both in-person and telehealth services, is often the most effective way to meet patient needs. In some cases, patients may opt for telehealth visits for convenience or to maintain continuity with a provider they have already established a relationship with. In other cases, patients may need more intensive care, prompting them to schedule in-person visits. This “omni-channel” model, where patients switch between virtual and in-person visits as needed, has become increasingly common in the behavioral health care trends space.
Preparing for the Future: A Call for Innovation
As we move further into 2025 and beyond, the need for effective, scalable solutions to meet the growing demand for behavioral health services will only intensify. The behavioral health workforce shortage is not going away, and the number of individuals seeking care is expected to continue rising, especially among youth. This combination of factors will require both short-term and long-term strategies to ensure that mental health services are available to those who need them.
In the short term, expanding the use of telehealth for behavioral health services can help alleviate some of the pressure on an overburdened system. However, this will not be a one-size-fits-all solution. It will be crucial to balance virtual care with in-person visits and ensure that patients can access the full range of services they need, whether online or in a clinical setting.
In the long term, addressing the supply-demand imbalance will require a multi-pronged approach, including better workforce planning, greater use of technology to enhance care delivery, and more targeted policies aimed at meeting the unique needs of different populations. Behavioral health care providers, policymakers, and healthcare systems must work together to develop data-driven, patient-centered solutions that can provide the right care at the right time.
Conclusion
The rise in behavioral health care visits since the pandemic is a stark reminder of the urgent need for expanded mental health services. While telehealth has been an essential tool in meeting this demand, the future of behavioral health care requires a more holistic approach. As the mental health crisis deepens, especially among youth, it is imperative that the industry evolve to meet these challenges. By leveraging data, expanding the provider workforce, and utilizing both in-person and virtual care, we can work to ensure that behavioral health services are available and accessible for all individuals in need. The road ahead is complex, but with the right strategies in place, we can build a more resilient and responsive mental health care system.
