Psychiatric Care in New York: Statistics
Statistics
In 2023 and 2024, an estimated 21.9% of New York adults, about 3.4 million people, had a mental illness in the past year, close to the U.S. figure of 23.1%. About the same share, 21.8%, received mental health treatment in 2024, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Key numbers
Mental illness and treatment in New York State
SAMHSA’s survey asks people aged 12 and older about mental health, and its state figures combine 2023 and 2024 answers (treatment figures are for 2024 alone). About 3,403,000 New York adults had a mental illness in the past year and about 3,411,000 received mental health treatment, which includes counseling, prescription medication and telehealth. Among young people aged 12 to 17, 30.5% received mental health treatment in 2024.
| Measure | New York | 95% range | New Yorkers | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any mental illness, adults (2023–2024) | 21.9% | 20.3 to 23.6 | 3,403,000 | 23.1% |
| Serious mental illness, adults (2023–2024) | 4.7% | 4.1 to 5.5 | 736,000 | 5.6% |
| Major depressive episode, adults (2023–2024) | 7.7% | 6.8 to 8.7 | 1,198,000 | 8.3% |
| Major depressive episode, ages 12–17 (2023–2024) | 15.3% | 13.1 to 17.7 | 210,000 | 16.7% |
| Received mental health treatment, adults (2024) | 21.8% | 19.6 to 24.0 | 3,411,000 | 22.9% |
| Received mental health treatment, ages 12–17 (2024) | 30.5% | 26.8 to 34.4 | 420,000 | 28.5% |
Share of each group in the past year. “New Yorkers” is SAMHSA’s estimate of the number of people, rounded to the nearest thousand. The 95% ranges for New York overlap the U.S. figure on every measure, so these figures do not show that New York differs from the U.S. Source: SAMHSA, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2023–2024 state estimates (Tables 33, 34, 37 and 38).
Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners
New York City had 55.8 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents in November 2026, against 38.8 for the state and 20.1 for the U.S. Most of the city’s are in Manhattan. Psychiatric nurse practitioners grew 103% in New York State and 167% in the U.S. from November 2021.
| Area | Psychiatrists | Per 100,000 | Psychiatric NPs | Per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 3,043 | 182.8 | 864 | 51.9 |
| Brooklyn | 634 | 23.9 | 419 | 15.8 |
| Queens | 569 | 24.1 | 281 | 11.9 |
| Bronx | 416 | 29.6 | 232 | 16.5 |
| Staten Island | 132 | 26.3 | 62 | 12.4 |
| New York City | 4,794 | 55.8 | 1,858 | 21.6 |
| New York State | 7,757 | 38.8 | 4,549 | 22.7 |
| U.S. (50 states + DC) | 68,565 | 20.1 | 64,998 | 19.0 |
Individual providers with an active NPI at a primary practice address in each area. Source: Our study of CMS NPPES data (as of November 2, 2026) and Census population estimates; see the full study for method and limits.
Mental health shortage areas in New York City
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designates Health Professional Shortage Areas where there are too few mental health professionals for the population. As of November 11, 2026, 64 mental health designations in New York City were active: 18 cover the Medicaid-eligible population of 1,041 census tracts (2,207,421 people), and 46 cover individual facilities, 40 of them community health centers. The Bronx had the most population designations (7). In Brooklyn, the designated areas are Bedford-Stuyvesant, Coney Island, East Flatbush, East New York and Williamsburg/Bushwick.
| Borough | Population designations | Census tracts | Medicaid-eligible people | Facility designations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 3 | 99 | 269,623 | 18 |
| Brooklyn | 5 | 379 | 666,010 | 13 |
| Queens | 2 | 182 | 307,677 | 5 |
| Bronx | 7 | 347 | 899,026 | 8 |
| Staten Island | 1 | 34 | 65,085 | 2 |
Designated mental health HPSAs with any part in New York City. A designation that spans two boroughs counts in the one holding most of it. Population designations cover the Medicaid-eligible population of a group of census tracts; facility designations cover a clinic or institution. Source: HRSA mental health HPSA data, as of November 11, 2026.
ADHD medication supply
In 2025, buyers in New York State received 6,359 grams of amphetamine per 100,000 residents, against 8,942 for the U.S.; New York City buyers received 4,071.
| Area | Amphetamine | Lisdexamfetamine | Methylphenidate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 3,114 | 1,274 | 2,081 |
| New York City | 4,071 | 1,914 | 2,601 |
| New York State | 6,359 | 2,851 | 4,927 |
| U.S. (50 states + DC) | 8,942 | 4,245 | 6,057 |
Grams distributed to pharmacies and other DEA-registered buyers per 100,000 residents, calendar 2025. Source: our study of DEA ARCOS data (DEA report run June 30, 2026).
What these numbers mean for you
- Mental illness, and getting help for it, are common. About one New York adult in five had a mental illness in the past year, and about one in five received mental health treatment.
- Where you live shapes how many prescribers are nearby. Psychiatrists in New York City are concentrated in Manhattan, and many visits now happen by video. Our borough study has the details.
- A shortage designation marks need, not a closed door. Designations help clinics in those areas recruit clinicians through federal programs. Living in one does not mean care is unavailable.
- Statewide figures describe groups, not you. If you are thinking about care for yourself or your child, care with the practice starts with a discovery call.
What if I am in crisis or emergency? If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or thoughts of harming yourself, call 988 or 911, or go to your nearest emergency room right away. The practice provides scheduled outpatient care and is not set up for emergency or crisis response.
Method and limits
- NSDUH state estimates. SAMHSA models state figures from its national survey (small area estimation) and publishes them with 95% credible intervals. Any mental illness and serious mental illness are estimated from survey indicators, not clinical diagnoses. Adult and adolescent figures are measured separately and cannot be added together.
- Shortage areas. We counted HRSA mental health designations with the status “Designated” and any part in the five boroughs, from HRSA’s detail file of November 11, 2026, each designation once. Community health centers qualify for a facility designation automatically, so facility counts track where those centers are as much as local need.
- Carried-over figures. Prescriber and medication figures come from our two studies, which explain their own methods and limits.
- Checks. A separate script re-reads the NSDUH figures from SAMHSA’s Excel workbook and recounts the shortage designations from HRSA’s Excel file, and they match.
Sources
- SAMHSA, 2023–2024 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates (Tables 33, 34, 37, 38, percentages and totals): www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-2024-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- HRSA, mental health Health Professional Shortage Area detail file (data downloads): data.hrsa.gov/data/download; search tool: HPSA Find
- Our studies: psychiatrists and psychiatric NPs by borough (CMS NPPES), ADHD medication in Brooklyn vs Manhattan (DEA ARCOS)
Cite this page
Beata Lewis MD. “Psychiatric Care in New York: Statistics.” Published November 12, 2026. https://drlewis.com/research/new-york-psychiatry-statistics/.
Download the figures (CSV). Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with credit to Beata Lewis MD (drlewis.com) and a link to this page.
Spotted an error? Contact us and we will correct it and note the change on this page.
This page reports public statistics. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anyone.
About this research
Beata Lewis MD is an integrative psychiatry and functional medicine practice in Brooklyn. This page uses public federal data only and contains no patient information. More research
The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.