Virtual Mental Health Care Use Declined Since 2023
While telehealth remains common, younger children and rural residents access virtual mental health services at lower rates.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Mental Health
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A retrospective study analyzing 28,844,298 outpatient visits found that virtual mental health care usage in the United States dropped from 79.7% in 2023 to 76.2% by the end of 2025. This research highlights how access to remote therapy and psychiatric services varies significantly depending on a patient's age and geography.
Why it matters
Understanding these usage patterns is essential for identifying disparities in how different populations interact with modern mental health delivery models. The findings underscore that although telehealth is a dominant mode of care, certain demographics may face distinct barriers to its adoption.
This retrospective cohort study analyzed 28,844,298 outpatient mental health visits among 1,843,439 commercially insured patients from 2023 to 2025. While 77.6% of all visits were virtual, researchers observed notable gaps, including a 37.1% telehealth rate for children aged 6-12 versus 77.0% for young adults aged 18-24.
The details
The study compared utilization across factors including provider type, patient age, and rural versus urban settings. Prescribers utilized virtual delivery for 90.4% of their care, significantly more than the 75.7% reported by psychotherapists. Overall, rural patients accessed virtual care at a rate of 70.3%, trailing behind the 77.5% rate seen in urban settings.
Timeline
The analysis of outpatient mental health visit patterns began in January 2023.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended in May 2023.
The study period for the outpatient mental health visit analysis concluded in December 2025.
Health Landscape
This study captures how the shift toward remote services triggered by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has evolved as the healthcare system returned to post-emergency care patterns. The data illustrates a maturing landscape where telehealth has become a standard, yet geographically and demographically uneven, component of mental health care.
These trends suggest that your access to mental health services may vary significantly based on whether you are seeking a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist. If you live in a rural area or are seeking care for a child, it is worth discussing with your doctor how to best navigate the available options for both in-person and remote sessions.
The takeaway
While telehealth has become a primary vehicle for mental health care, usage patterns differ sharply across different patient groups. When scheduling care, confirm with your provider which platforms they use and whether your specific needs are better met via a virtual or in-person visit.
Further reading
For more on the current state of care, explore our coverage in Mental Health.
More information
You can review the full academic research publication to see the full findings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rand Corporation.
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