This dashboard shows the percentages of adolescents ages 10 to 17 represented in data from the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative who had a recorded diagnosis of anxiety, depression, eating disorder, or suicidal ideation or attempt from 2016 to 2023. The data show that each year more Arkansas adolescents are being diagnosed with these mental health conditions.
Key Findings
- From 2022 to 2023, percentages of diagnoses increased across all four categories measured: anxiety, depression, eating disorder, and suicidal ideation or attempt.
- The most common diagnosis was anxiety, with 8.66% of all adolescents ages 10 to 17 receiving a diagnosis in 2023.
- The largest relative increase between 2022 and 2023 was eating disorders with a 6.9% increase, from 0.233% to 0.249%.
- All diagnoses had their largest increase between 2020 and 2021.
Changes in recorded diagnoses may reflect multiple factors. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life and was associated with worsening depression and anxiety symptoms among children and adolescents. Also, provider screening guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force expanded in 2009 to include universal depression screening for adolescents ages 12 to 18, and in 2022 the task force recommended anxiety screening for adolescents ages 8 to 18.
Arkansas has taken steps to address concerns about technology use and the potential effects on youth mental health. For example, The Bell to Bell, No Cell Act generally restricts students’ personal electronic device use during the school day, citing social media’s harm to academic performance and mental well-being.
About the Data
The data presented here were obtained using the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative’s All-Payer Claims Database. The percentages reflect diagnoses recorded in available healthcare claims. They do not represent all Arkansas adolescents ages 10 to 17 who had these conditions, because the data do not capture individuals who did not receive care, whose conditions were not documented in a medical claim, or whose care is not represented in the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative database.
DASHBOARD VIEWS/DEFINITIONS
Diagnosis Setting:
- The “Any Care Setting” diagnosis setting option includes diagnoses recorded in outpatient, emergency department, or inpatient settings.
- The “ED or Inpatient” diagnosis setting option includes diagnoses recorded during emergency department visits or inpatient stays only.
Diagnosis:
- Anxiety: Includes diagnosis codes for anxiety diagnoses, such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, stimulant-induced anxiety disorder, or social phobia.
- Depression: Includes diagnosis codes for depression diagnoses, such as major depressive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or postpartum depression.
- Eating Disorder: Includes diagnosis codes for eating disorder diagnoses, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.
- Suicidal Ideation or Attempt: Includes diagnosis codes for suicidal ideation or attempt diagnoses, such as self-harm.