In 2024, millions of patients turned to Zocdoc to find healthcare providers across every state and specialty, booking appointments instantly online. Every click revealed patient preferences, including for mental health care — one of the most sought-after specialties. In fact, psychiatrists and psychologists ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, among the top 10 most booked specialists in 2024. Psychiatry saw remarkable growth, becoming the third fastest-growing specialty in year-over-year bookings, with psychology following closely as the fifth fastest-growing specialty group.
By analyzing these patient behaviors, we uncovered powerful insights to help practices better support their patients. Here’s what Zocdoc data revealed about mental health patients in 2024.
Who was looking for new mental health providers?
Zocdoc mental health patients skewed younger and female
In 2024, just over half (51%) of Zocdoc mental health patients were Millennials (ages 27-42). Nearly a third (31%) were young adults (ages 18-29). Nearly 7 out of 10 mental health patients were female.
They sought long-term relationships
Patients seeking mental health care in 2024 valued trust and continuity. Over 80% of Zocdoc’s mental health patients rebooked with the same provider, making them one of the most loyal patient groups.
Younger mental health patients were the most loyal rebookers. One out of three mental health rebookers were between the ages of 18-26 and half were millennials (ages 27-42). Mental health rebookings remained relatively consistent across all types of insurance and self-pay, highlighting that patients want to find providers they like.
This loyalty translated to higher lifetime revenue, as patients consistently returned for visit reasons including psychiatry consultations, follow-ups, and depression.
When did they want to see mental health providers?
Patients prioritized speed to care
In 2024, nearly half of appointments occurred within 4 days of booking and 80% occurred within 8 days of booking — far sooner than the national average wait time of 3 months.
*According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Practitioner Pulse Survey
Booking flexibility was essential
A quarter of patients booked mental health appointments from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. when the office is typically closed. This highlighted the importance of offering online self-scheduling to remain competitive and meet patient needs.
Early in the week, early afternoon appointments were preferred
The busiest booking days were Mondays and Tuesdays, with 1 p.m. being the most popular time slot.
They prioritized visits in late summer
You might think stress around the holidays would mean more appointments with mental health providers. As it turns out, October through December were the least busy, with patients booking 19% more mental health appointments in August vs. the average month in 2024.
How did they choose mental health providers?
Insurance drove decisions
Many people often think they have to go out-of-network and shell out big bucks to see mental health providers. However, Zocdoc makes it easy to find in-network providers. In fact, in 2024, 89% of patients on Zocdoc booked mental health appointments with in-network insurance, while 6% were out-of-network and 5% were self-pay.
Mobile led the way
69% of mental health appointments were booked via mobile device, a number that continues to increase year-over-year, and underscores the importance of meeting patients where and how they’re searching.
Reviews and photos mattered
Patients consistently favored providers with more positive reviews and professional office photos. Relative to mental health providers with one to nine reviews, those with 10 to 29 reviews saw 3.8x as many bookings on average. While many platforms allow anyone to write a review, Zocdoc promotes trust by only publishing reviews from verified patients.
Similarly, providers with one to three photos got 3.5x as many bookings compared to providers who didn’t have any photos.
Provider gender played a role
Similar to 2023, male mental health professionals received an average of 38% more bookings than female providers. This held true in 2024 even though there are roughly 4x the number of female mental health professionals on Zocdoc than male, and 2 in 3 mental health bookings were made for female patients.
Listing hospital affiliation (when applicable) boosted bookings
Psychiatry providers who included their hospital affiliation on Zocdoc saw 1.4x more bookings than those who did not.
Why were they looking for new mental health providers?
Common mental health concerns were top of mind
The most booked visit reasons included psychiatry consultations, anxiety, and attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Notably, therapy bookings for male patients increased 161% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Where did they want to see mental health providers?
Patients embraced virtual care, but wanted to stay close to home for in-person visits, too
Compared to 2023, patients booked more virtual visits for mental health in 2024. Virtual appointments accounted for 74% of psychology visits and 79% of psychiatry visits.
For in-person care, 7 out of 10 visits occurred within 20 miles, while just over half of all virtual visits were booked for providers within the same distance.
Looking back at 2024
From prioritizing quick access and long-term relationships to favoring providers with trustworthy reviews, mental health patients made their expectations clear. Understanding these trends and how you can meet patients’ unique needs can position your practice for further growth in 2025. Consult with an enterprise sales representative to learn more about how Zocdoc can grow your business.