Virtual Mental Health Care Usage Declined Since 2023
A new study found that virtual outpatient mental health visits dropped to 76.2% by late 2025.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Mental Health
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A retrospective study analyzing over 28 million outpatient mental health visits between 2023 and 2025 revealed a decrease in telehealth utilization. Overall, virtual care usage fell from 79.7% in 2023 to 76.2% by December 2025.
Why it matters
The research highlights significant gaps in access to virtual mental health services, particularly for younger children and those residing in rural areas. Understanding these patterns is essential for shaping future healthcare delivery strategies.
Researchers analyzed 28,844,298 mental health visits, finding that telehealth utilization for children aged 6-12 was just 37.1% compared to 77.0% for young adults. Furthermore, rural patients accessed virtual care at a rate of 70.3% versus 77.5% for urban patients.
The details
The study utilized insurance claims from 1,843,439 commercially insured patients to track care patterns. Data showed that prescribers were more likely to utilize virtual platforms, delivering 90.4% of care remotely compared to 75.7% for psychotherapists.
Timeline
The analysis period for outpatient mental health visits began in January 2023.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency officially ended in May 2023.
The study period for examining mental health utilization concluded in December 2025.
Health Landscape
This study provides a post-pandemic evaluation of how the rapid transition to telehealth during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has stabilized across the national healthcare system. It marks a shift from crisis-driven virtual adoption to a more nuanced, segmented model of outpatient care.
The findings suggest that access to virtual appointments may vary significantly depending on a patient's age and location, potentially affecting the convenience of ongoing therapy. Patients should consult their insurance providers to clarify whether virtual options remain preferred or available for their specific provider type.
The takeaway
Telehealth remains a dominant force in mental health care, though its adoption is not uniform across all demographics. Patients seeking care may find more consistent virtual availability through medication prescribers than through traditional psychotherapy.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research and clinical standards in Mental Health.
More information
Review the full academic research publication to see the full breakdown of the data.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rand Corporation.
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