WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new national survey reveals that families are struggling to access mental healthcare for their children, with private insurance often posing greater barriers than Medicaid. The report, “Pulse Check 2025: Mothers on Child Mental Health Impacts, Care, and Support,” from advocacy organizations Inseparable and Count on Mothers, surveyed 2,700 U.S. mothers and found that the healthcare system is leaving many families without critical support.
Cost and Access Major Obstacles
Nationally, one in four mothers reported being unable to access mental healthcare for their child when needed. In Indiana, that number is slightly higher at 26.5%.
Despite 96% of all families having some form of health insurance, cost was cited as the most significant barrier by 51% of mothers nationwide.
Private vs. Public Insurance
The report highlights a startling finding: private insurance is failing families at a higher rate. Among mothers who couldn’t get adequate mental healthcare, 80% had private insurance, compared to just 13% with Medicaid.
The data also shows that while nearly two-thirds of mothers on Medicaid were satisfied with their mental health coverage, fewer than half of those with private insurance felt the same.
According to the report, private insurance often requires families to navigate a complex system, resulting in difficult-to-get appointments with private therapists that require time off from work and school.
“Good mental health care for kids should be easy to find and affordable, but what we heard from moms in this survey is that it’s not,” said Kathleen Daughety, SVP of Campaigns at Inseparable.
Mothers’ Mental Health Also at Risk
The survey also shed light on the mental health struggles of mothers themselves. Nationally, one in two mothers reported struggling with their own mental health, with time being the primary barrier to them seeking care.
“Our healthcare system is failing children and parents when they need help most,” said Jennifer Bransford, founder of Count on Mothers. “This report is a call to action: our children’s mental health—and their futures—are at stake.”
Read the full report here.
