Millennial Health: Trends in Behavioral Health Conditions

 Millennial Health: Trends in Behavioral Health Conditions

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s 2019 report on the Health of Millennials revealed a downward trend in the health of this population, driven largely by six behavioral health conditions. Since that report, an additional year of data shows that millennial health continues to decline, driven by notable increases in behavioral health conditions, including a 12% increase in major depression, 7% increase in alcohol use disorder and a 5% increase in tobacco use disorder and substance use disorder.

This report, driven by fresh insights into trends in millennials’ behavioral health, dives deeper into the impact of these conditions on millennials. Millennials with a behavioral health condition are at twice the risk of having a chronic physical condition.

IN THIS REPORT

Key Findings

Continued Rise in Behavioral Health Conditions

Impact on Chronic Physical Conditions

Health Disparities

Substance Use Disorder

Spotlight on Opioid Use Disorder

Call to Action

Methodology

Appendix

KEY FINDINGS

Nearly a third of millennials have a behavioral health condition, and rates are rising by double digits.

Millennials with a behavioral health condition are at twice the risk of having a chronic physical condition.

Millennials from majority Black and Hispanic communities have lower rates of behavioral health conditions compared to millennials from white communities—likely due to under-diagnosis.1

Substance use disorder continues to rise among millennials. Those diagnosed with an opioid use disorder are 46% less healthy than their peers and treatment varies by race with Blacks and Hispanics having lower overall rates of treatment than whites.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO RISE

An additional year of data shows a continued downward trend in millennial health over a five year period. Rates of behavioral health conditions continue to rise, contributing to a large number of years of healthy life lost. Rates of major depression, alcohol use disorder (AUD), tobacco use disorder (TUD), substance use disorder (SUD) and ADHD rose again from 2017-2018, pushing the five year prevalence change for these conditions to 43% for major depression, 5% for AUD, 10% for TUD and 39% for ADHD (See Exhibit 1).