Washington, DC, April 10, 2024  – The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) released updated workforce maps, highlighting the severe national shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists. These maps detail the rate of practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists per 100,000 children aged 0-17 years by county, alongside the average age of these psychiatrists by state.
 
Consistent national studies underscore the prevalence of mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders among U.S. children and adolescents. AACAP aims to address the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists trained to deliver specialized mental health care to children and families in need.

Current data includes:

• Annually, one in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experiences a mental health disorder.
• Mental health disorders start by age 14 in half of these cases, and by age 24 in three-quarters.
• In 2020, one in six young people had a major depressive episode, and suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-14.
• Only half of the children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health issues receive necessary treatment.

Data from the American Medical Association and the U.S. Census Bureau show the extent of child and adolescent psychiatry shortage areas across the country.

Highlights include:

• The U.S. has about 11,400 practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists.
• The national average age of these psychiatrists is 52 years.
• State ratios of child and adolescent psychiatrists per 100,000 children vary from 5 to 65, with a national average of 15. (This includes Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia)
• 72% of U.S. counties lack practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists.

For more information about AACAP Workforce Maps, please visit AACAP’s website. For inquiries, contact AACAP’s Communications Department at communications@aacap.org.

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is a national professional medical association dedicated to promoting the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families. With a membership of over 10,000 professionals, AACAP provides valuable resources, expertise, and advocacy to advance the field of child and adolescent psychiatry and improve mental health care for young people. For more information, please visit www.aacap.org