​​Americans Report Declining Mental Health

Americans are reporting lower levels of mental well-being than at any point in recent history, according to a new national poll that highlights growing concern among health experts about the country’s psychological health. The survey found that just over seven in ten adults now describe their mental health as “good” or “excellent,” marking the lowest share recorded since researchers began tracking the measure, while the proportion of respondents rating their mental health as “excellent” has fallen below 30 percent for the first time.

Researchers say the trend reflects a steady decline that accelerated in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic and has not rebounded. Before 2020, significantly more Americans consistently rated their mental health at the highest levels, a contrast that underscores how prolonged stress, uncertainty, and disruption have reshaped daily life. Economic pressures, political division, and lingering social isolation are widely cited as contributing factors to the downturn.

Mental health professionals note that the numbers may also reflect a cultural shift in how Americans understand and discuss emotional well-being. Increased awareness and reduced stigma surrounding conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit disorders, and bipolar disorder may be leading more people to assess their mental health with greater honesty and nuance, rather than defaulting to positive self-ratings.

The decline appears broad-based, affecting nearly all demographic groups. Notably, some populations that previously reported stronger mental health—such as college-educated adults and politically conservative respondents—have experienced some of the sharpest drops, suggesting that mental health challenges are now cutting across traditional social and ideological lines.

Public frustration with the nation’s response to the crisis is also growing. Many Americans believe that government leaders have not done enough to expand access to mental health care or address the underlying causes of emotional distress. Calls for stronger investment in treatment services, crisis response programs, and protections for public health funding have intensified as more people report unmet mental health needs.

Experts caution that while the findings are troubling, they also point to a population increasingly willing to acknowledge mental health struggles rather than conceal them. That openness, they say, could create momentum for more effective policy solutions and community-based support if leaders respond to the growing demand for action.