Serious Psychological Distress by Race

White non-Hispanic
4.9%
Black non-Hispanic
3.8%
Hispanic
7.8%
Asian
3.6%

Serious Psychological Distress by Marital Status

Married
3.4%
Divorced/Widowed/Separated
10.2%
Never married
5.2%
Unmarried, living with significant other
4.6%

Serious Psychological Distress by Educational Attainment

Less than high school
7.9%
High school graduate
6.2%
Some college
4.9%
College graduate
3.2%

Serious Psychological Distress by Employment Status

Employed/self-employed
3.2%
Unemployed
10.2%
Homemaker, student, retired
4.5%
Unable to work
21.1%

Serious Psychological Distress by Household Income

Less than 200% of Federal Poverty Level
8%
At or above 200% of Federal Poverty Level
2.7%

Serious Psychological Distress by Insurance Type

Private
2.2%
Medicare
7.1%
Medicaid
9.3%
Others
4.8%
Uninsured
6.2%

Mental health treatment for serious psychological distress

Took psychiatric medication
36.8%
Received counseling
32.4%
Received counseling or medication
43.7%
Did not receive counseling or medication
56.4%
Needed mental health treatment but did not get it
23.1%

Measuring Mental Health in the City

Every year the city’s Department of Health surveys New Yorkers about a variety of health issues, including their emotional well-being. The results for 2013 show who suffers the most psychological distress in this chaotic city that can both inspire and overwhelm.

“The results underscore some of the common factors associated with serious distress—social isolation, poverty, unemployment and the inability to find appropriate help that is engaging, especially for people of color,” said Harvey Rosenthal, Director of New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.