- Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults experienced a mental illness in 2024, according to a new report.
- Though youth mental illness has improved, it is still in a state of crisis, with 3 million children from 12 to 17 frequently considering suicide.
- Access to mental health care varies from state to state, with needs often going unmet due to a lack of available or affordable services.
Nearly a quarter of all U.S. adults, or around 23%, experienced a mental illness in the past year, according to a new report. That’s nearly 60 million Americans.
The report also ranks U.S states according to residents’ reported mental well-being and the mental health care available in each state.
New York, Hawaii, and New Jersey have the strongest mental health and mental health services.
The lowest-ranking states for mental health are Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada.
America’s youth continue to face mental health challenges. Around 11%, or 2.8 million young people, experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) that affected their ability to function at school, home, or at a job in 2024.
Even so, there has been a significant improvement in mental health among American youth, with young people reporting MDE dropping from around 18% in 2023 to 15% in 2024.
Suicidal thoughts among young people also decreased in those two years, from around 12% in 2023 to 10% in 2024.
Around 1 in 4 adults with any mental illness (AMI) said they had an unmet need for mental health care in 2022 and 2023. In 2022 and 2023, over 5 million people, or around 9% of the population, were uninsured.
Access to healthcare has become more uncertain in 2025, a period beyond the scope of the report.
The state of mental health among U.S. adults has remained the same in recent years, highlighting ongoing challenges.
“The fact that nearly 1 in 4 adults still report significant struggles, and many describe unmet needs, tells us the system is not meeting demand,” Barbara Sparacino, MD, a board certified psychiatrist with The Aging Parent Coach in Florida, told Healthline.
There may also be more people seeking treatment than before. “I think the U.S. has reduced the stigma around mental health concerns and treatment, which was a big barrier to people receiving help,” said Adrienne Borschuk, PhD, a psychologist at SUNY Upstate.
“Mental health services for children are being integrated into schools and doctors’ offices, which has increased availability for some families,” Borschuk told Healthline.
Loraine Moorehead, LCSW, a therapist in Scottsdale, Arizona, said that the report singles out “primary care treatment, and that is an initiative that is being implemented with Medicaid clients as well: to encourage ongoing preventive mental health care rather than solely crisis care.”
Medicaid emphasized peer support when therapeutic services are not available.
Michael Roeske, PsyD, senior director of the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation, told Healthline that the new report’s findings highlight a “critical gap between awareness and access.”
As the report suggests, the cost of mental health services is likely a barrier to care. Differences in insurance coverage are a significant factor determining the quality of states’ mental health support services.
“I worry that recent changes to medical legislation, including cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, are limiting access to mental health services for those that are most in need,” said Borschuk.
“Social safety net programs, like food stamps and temporary assistance to needy families, which are also being cut, directly impact child brain development, with more robust support associated with healthier brain development and fewer behavioral health symptoms,” she noted.
Sparacino told Healthline that ongoing shortages of mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, therapists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners, particularly in rural areas, are another factor driving unfavorable mental health outcomes in some states.
In addition to cost, time is another factor. Many people might not be able to take time off work or be away from their families to receive mental health services.
“Having a weekly hourly therapy appointment can be burdensome for people to fit into their schedules, especially if it’s in-person,” Borschuk explained. “Many therapists schedule between 8–5, which can require families to take time off from work or school. A weekly copay can add up to be unaffordable.”
Wherever you live, there are resources available to support your mental health.
For younger people, most schools offer mental health services through guidance counselors or on-site psychiatric or psychological services.
For adults, it is often a good idea to begin with one’s primary care provider, who may be able to provide a referral.
Sparacino said that if cost is a factor, telehealth, integrated care in primary practices, sliding-scale clinics, and peer support programs are other options.
Moorehead told Healthline that low-cost or free support may exist nearby, such as graduate school counseling centers and volunteer or pro bono centers.
“Mental health care doesn’t exist in isolation,” said Sparacino. “It’s tied to housing, employment, education, and social supports. Addressing mental health requires not only clinical services, but also investment in the broader determinants of well-being.”
