Detroit is the largest and most populous city in Michigan with a population of 639,111. One out of three people in Detroit live in poverty, three times the national average. Detroit is the seat of Wayne County, which ranks the lowest of 83 counties in Michigan for both health outcomes and health factors.Mental and behavioral health remain important concerns in Detroit. In the Detroit Health Department’s 2025 Community Health Assessment, 63% of community survey respondents said mental health was the most important medical issue to address. The assessment also identified mental and behavioral health as one of the city’s key strategic health priorities.
A pre-pandemic large-scale survey of more than 11,000 students, 3,500 staff, and 800 families in Detroit public schools found that half of student respondents had suffered from symptoms of anxiety or depression in the past year, and an alarming 23% had entertained suicidal thoughts. Students’ top mental health concern was academic stress followed by anxiety, depression, and family stress. "We recognize that the ability of students to take full advantage of educational opportunity requires that we create a foundational culture of health and wellness throughout each and every one of our schools," said Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti.
The study found that 49% of non-binary students had severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, with another 39% experiencing mild or moderate symptoms. Among LBTQIA+ youth, 33% had severe symptoms and 49% experienced mild or moderate symptoms. 28% of homeless students had severe symptoms and 49% had mild or moderate symptoms. 45% of transgender students had severe symptoms and 23% had moderate or mild symptoms. 20% of female students had severe symptoms and 50% had mild or moderate symptoms. 11% of males had severe symptoms and 46% had mild or moderate symptoms. Symptoms of anxiety were also felt in 60-80% of female, non-binary, transgender, LGBTQIA+, and homeless students.
According to 15 adult and youth measures of mental illness prevalence and access to care, Mental Health America ranked Michigan 15th in the country. For adults only, Michigan is rated 6th due to lower prevalence combined with better access to care. Looking at mental illness prevalence alone, Michigan ranks 18th with 19.07% or 1,469,000 adults experiencing a mental illness. 7.47% or 576,000 adults have a substance use disorder, ranking 21st. 53.8% or 779,000 adults with a mental illness received no treatment, and 24.4% or 353,000 reported seeking treatment but still not receiving needed services.
Among youth ages 12-17, 15.36% or 117,000 kids have suffered at least one major depressive episode in the past year, a ranking of 42. 3.64% or 28,000 youth have a substance use disorder, the 15th lowest rate in the country. 11.3% or 84,000 youth have been coping with major severe depression, ranking 38th. Across the country, the number of youths experiencing major severe depression increased by 126,000 from the previous year.
Sources
- Detroit. Wikipedia. [Accessed September 2021]
- Michigan. County Health Rankings & Roadmap. [Accessed September 2021]
- Survey assesses student mental health needs in Detroit schools. University of Michigan: M Health Lab. [Accessed September 2021]
- The State of Mental Health in America 2021. Mental Health America. [Accessed September 2021]
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