2025 Mental Health and Well-Being Status

Mental Health Statistics In 2025

Mental health disorders are extremely common in the United States. In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 25% of adults have a mental health condition and almost 5% of adults have a serious mental health condition that interferes with their life. The incidence of mental and behavioral health conditions in children under 17 is about 1 in 7.

The general public is concerned about the state of mental health. Over 70% of adults in the United States believe that mental health problems are handled somewhat or much worse than physical health concerns, according to a Gallup survey. These adults are also concerned that the U.S. healthcare system does a poor job of addressing mental health issues, such as depression.

Suicidal ideation continues to be a growing health concern, with more than 5% of the U.S. adult population experiencing thoughts of suicide. This number is increased in adolescents, with around 13% of adolescents aged 12–17 experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, according to a 2024 mental health report by Mental Health in America.

There are many reasons why mental health continues to be a significant concern for many people in the United States. Cost is one of the most significant barriers to mental health care, with 10% of adults with mental illness being uninsured. Of those who do have insurance, around 10% of adults and more than 8% of youths have insurance plans that don’t cover mental health.

Another current barrier to care is a lack of mental health providers. There are an estimated 340 people in the U.S. for every mental health care provider, and this number may be worse than estimated, as estimates may include providers who have retired or stopped taking new patients. More than 60% of psychologists reported having no openings for new patients.

Mental Health Treatment Options In 2025

Fortunately, there are many options for mental health treatment. Many people consider starting their mental health journey with either therapy or medication. Several types of therapy are used to help people who are struggling with mental health concerns.

According to 2024 data, over 59 million adults in the United States received mental health treatment or counseling in 2023. The most common reasons for seeking mental health treatment were depression and anxiety. Studies showed that adult women between 18 and 44 years of age are most likely to seek therapy.

To meet this rising number of clients, many providers have started offering therapy services via telehealth. Multiple types of mental health services are available through telehealth, including medication monitoring and one-on-one counseling.  Some of these services are covered through insurance, while others may be available through cash-pay or subscription services. Sometimes, these cash-pay costs may be covered by healthcare savings accounts.

Medications Used In 2025

Many classes of medications are used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. Medication prescriptions for mental health conditions have been increasing. A 2023 study in Scientific Reports noted that 17% of college students were on medication for mental health concerns, while the National Center for Health Statistics reported that 16.5% of adults were taking prescription medication for their mental health in 2020.

With more than 250 million prescriptions for mental health medications prescribed in 2020, psychiatric medications are extremely common. The top 10 most common prescriptions for mental health medications included:

• Sertraline
• Escitalopram
• Bupropion
• Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
• Trazodone
• Fluoxetine
• Duloxetine
• Citalopram
• Alprazolam
• Methylphenidate

NMDA antagonists are a newer class of medications being studied for depression. These medications have a more rapid onset than traditional antidepressants. Ketamine is one of the medications in this class.

Currently, there is only one NMDA receptor agonist approved for the treatment of depression. Auvelity (dextromethorphan Hbr-bupropion HCL) was approved in 2022 for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Other Mental Health Treatments

Another upcoming treatment for mental health is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is a noninvasive procedure approved by the FDA for treatment resistant depression. TMS is also approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines, and smoking cessation. Additional possible indications are under review. TMS involves putting an electromagnetic coil on the scalp. Electromagnetic pulses are sent into the brain and activate areas of the brain that are believed to be related to depression.

Brain Health In 2025

At the end of 2024, the American College of Surgeons released new guidelines on best practices for managing traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries cause millions of emergency visits, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths per year. Some of the highlights of these recommendations include:

• New recommendations for advanced tools for monitoring the pressures and oxygen levels in the brain
• Blood markers can help identify the severity of brain injury and whether to do imaging studies.
• Recommendations to prevent secondary brain injuries based on the severity of the conditions
• Recommendations for multidisciplinary rehabilitation services
• Recommendations on the use of antiseizure medications to prevent seizures in high-risk patients

Gene therapy is an up-and-coming treatment for neurological disorders. Studies on proteins that can cross the blood-brain barrier to deliver gene therapy to treat both neurological and mental health disorders are one area of research where breakthroughs are being made. Huntington’s disease is one neurological disorder that may be promising for gene therapy.

Nanotechnologies are also being studied for the treatment of neurological conditions. These technologies may benefit both diagnosis and treatment. They affect the brain on a cellular or anatomic basis to repair damaged parts of the brain.

These technologies are important because neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions carry a significant burden worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, in the United States, more than 2.9 million people have Alzheimer’s disease, and more than 10% of people 65 or older have dementia. The organization has further suggested that stroke rates have increased over the past several years, with an increase of 8.4% between 2011 and 2021. Stroke deaths increased 26.3% during the same period.

Well-Being In The U.S.

Throughout 2024, data on different lifestyle factors, including being overweight and not getting quality sleep, revealed significant effects on Americans’ overall wellbeing.

Obesity

Obesity continues to be a chronic disease that has a significant impact on well-being. In the United States:

• More than 30% of adults and 16% of children are overweight (having a BMI between 25-29.9).
• More than 42% of adults and 19% of children have obesity (having a BMI >30).
• More than 9% of adults and 6% of adolescents have severe obesity (having a BMI of 40 and above).

Being overweight or obese can have significant impacts on health. Some of the concerns include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, liver disease, and some types of cancer. These conditions can also result in significant healthcare and other economic costs.

Obesity is a worldwide concern. According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity rates have increased by more than double since the early 1990s, and the rates of adolescent obesity have increased nearly fourfold.

Over the past several years, new medications have been introduced to treat obesity. This is an area of significant ongoing study. In the past few years, obesity treatment has been an area of growth and discovery. New medications such as semaglutide and tirezpatide were additionally approved for the treatment of diabetes but have recently been approved for the treatment of obesity and other chronic diseases like heart disease. However, studies have shown that after stopping semaglutide, people regain about two-thirds of their weight.

Today, obesity is starting to be viewed as a chronic disease, which may help reduce the stigma surrounding it and open the door for more research and treatment options in the future.

Sleep

According to the National Council on Aging, more than 35% of adults between 18 and 64 get less than seven hours of sleep per night. In adults aged 65 or older, the rate is closer to 28%. Adults who frequently have sleep deprivation attribute their lack of sleep to personal obligations, work, medical problems, or personal preference. Sleep deprivation can cause several symptoms, including:

• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Decreased motivation
• Depression
• Decreased concentration
• Trouble with attention
• Fatigue
• Poor reaction times
• Restlessness
• Coordination problems
• Memory problems
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Increased risk of death in severe cases

The gut microbiome is an area of research that may affect multiple aspects of health and well-being. Your gut microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that live in your digestive system and play an active role in multiple body systems. The gut microbiome has been linked to immune system function, digestive health, nervous system activity, and endocrine system activity, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Aging

The United States population continues to age as adults live longer. Older adults are more likely to have chronic aging-related medical conditions, with almost 95% of older adults having at least one chronic medical condition. Falls are more common in older adults and can be a significant source of morbidity and mortality for adults. The death rate for falls in older adults increased between 2012 and 2021, according to the National Council on Aging.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 or over by 2030. The aging population creates challenges for health care and society as public health adapts to meet the needs of this population.

There are concerns that this aging population will result in fewer people working and participating in the economy, leading to a worker shortage and increased healthcare costs. This may lead to more widespread economic effects.

Aging Well In 2025

With the world’s population of 2025 aging, many researchers are evaluating options to help people age well.

Trends in anti-aging therapies are focusing on more personalized treatments focusing on microbiomes and higher-tech solutions. Nutrition and wellness programs are also at the forefront of emerging trends in anti-aging therapy.

Inflammation is one of the areas of research that is being studied for its impacts on aging. Aging is often associated with chronic inflammation and decreased function of organs, cells, and the immune system. Research on aging and inflammation focuses on how chronic inflammation affects the body on a molecular, cellular, and organ system level and whether decreasing chronic inflammation will improve the dysfunction in these systems.

Another area of focus for aging research is telomere dysfunction. Telomeres are the ends of DNA within cells. When DNA replicates, it doesn’t go all the way to the end, and the telomeres shorten with each replication. Eventually, the cells reach a critical shortening, and cells may be auto-programmed to die. Research has linked telomere dysfunction to multiple age-related diseases. Researchers are evaluating whether therapies counteract telomere shortening and whether that counteraction will positively affect age-related disease.

Increase Your Knowledge

Mental health conditions continue to be a significant area of growing concern for Americans. New therapies are being developed to help address this increasing problem. Researchers continue to look for options to treat other chronic diseases, such as obesity and traumatic brain injury, and increase our understanding of how these conditions impact our overall health.

With so many evolving areas of research, it can be challenging to stay abreast of developments and how they may impact your health and the health of your loved ones. At Better Mind, we strive to help you stay current so that you can make the most informed decisions for your mental health and well-being.