Mental health care utilization among middle-aged and older U.S. adults: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey

Mental health care (MHC) utilization remains uneven among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, yet the role of comorbidity burden and other sociodemographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical domain predictors remains incompletely characterized. We analyzed pooled data from six waves (2019–2024) of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), comprising 128,261 adults aged ≥40 years. Comorbidity burden was the primary predictor, categorized as none, one, or ≥2 chronic conditions, while together with additional predictors was organized according to the predisposing, enabling, and need domains of Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. MHC utilization, the outcome, was defined as counseling or psychotherapy, mental health medication use, or visits to a mental health specialist within the previous 12 months. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression accounted for the complex survey design and sampling weights. Overall, approximately one in five adults utilized MHC services. Utilization was higher among females, non-Hispanic White adults, unmarried adults, smokers, overweight or obese adults, those with lower income, those with health insurance coverage, or residence in the Midwest, and those with one or ≥2 comorbidities, depression, or anxiety. In contrast, utilization was lower among adults aged 50–64, 65–74, and ≥75 years, non-Hispanic Black and Asian adults, and those with higher educational attainment. Taken together, these findings indicate that MHC utilization is shaped by comorbidity burden alongside predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors, underscoring the need for targeted and culturally responsive strategies to improve equitable access to MHC among this ageing population.