Mental health has become a major part of everyday health conversations across the United States. Many Americans now place nearly the same level of importance on emotional well-being as they do on physical fitness.
Recent findings from Pew Research Center surveys show how adults and teens view their mental health, who they trust enough to discuss it with, and which groups are facing the biggest struggles.
The data also highlights a growing awareness around emotional wellness, especially among younger generations and parents. At the same time, the numbers reveal clear gaps tied to age, income, and social comfort.
How Americans Rate Their Mental Health
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025, most U.S. adults describe their mental health in positive terms. Nearly half of adults, 48%, rate their mental health as either excellent or very good. Another 30% say it is good. Still, 22% report their mental health as fair or poor.
Age plays a major role in these responses. Adults under 30 stand out more than any other group. Around 36% of younger adults say their mental health is fair or poor. By comparison, only 9% of adults ages 65 and older say the same. The difference points to a growing emotional strain among younger Americans, even as mental health discussions become more accepted socially.
Income levels also shape mental health experiences. About 32% of lower-income adults report fair or poor mental health. That number drops to 19% among middle-income adults and 13% among upper-income groups. Financial pressure, job uncertainty, and access to care continue to affect emotional well-being across the country.
Gender differences are smaller. Women report fair or poor mental health slightly more often than men, at 23% compared with 20%.
Americans Focus More on Mental Wellness
The October 2025 survey also found that many adults are actively trying to care for their mental health. About 36% say they are putting in a lot of effort, while 49% say they are putting in a little effort. Only 15% report making no effort at all.
One interesting pattern appears among younger adults. Even though younger Americans are more likely to rate their mental health negatively, they are not significantly more likely than other age groups to say they are putting in major effort toward improvement. Their numbers remain close to older adults, including those 65 and older.
This suggests that awareness around mental health is widespread, but emotional challenges among younger adults may run deeper than effort alone can solve.
Who Americans Feel Comfortable Talking To
Comfort levels vary widely depending on the relationship.
A February 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 57% of adults feel extremely or very comfortable discussing mental health with a close friend. Around 52% feel that way with an immediate family member, while 50% are comfortable talking with a mental health therapist.
Comfort drops sharply in other settings. Only 31% say they would feel very comfortable speaking with a religious or spiritual leader. Just 11% feel the same about discussing mental health with a neighbor.
Relationships at home appear to offer the strongest support. Among adults who are married or living with a partner, 79% say they are extremely or very comfortable talking to their significant other about emotional well-being and mental health.
Workplaces remain one of the least comfortable environments for these discussions. Among employed adults, only 19% say they would feel very comfortable talking to a co-worker about mental health concerns.
Rising Teen Mental Health Concerns
Mental health concerns are also high among teenagers. A Pew Research Center survey from fall 2024 found that 35% of teens ages 13 to 17 are extremely or very concerned about the mental health of teens today. Another 42% are somewhat concerned. Only 23% say they are not too concerned or not concerned at all.
Teen girls report noticeably higher concern levels than boys. Around 42% of girls say they are extremely or very concerned about teen mental health, compared with 28% of boys.
Race also shapes responses. Half of Black teens, 50%, express strong concern about teen mental health. That compares with 39% of Hispanic teens and 31% of White teens. Researchers noted that there were not enough Asian respondents in the sample for separate analysis, though their responses were included in overall figures.
Parents Show Even Greater Concern
Parents appear even more worried than teens themselves.
Among parents with children ages 13 to 17, 55% say they are extremely or very concerned about teen mental health. Another 34% are somewhat concerned, while 11% report little or no concern.
The same demographic patterns seen among teens also appear among parents. Mothers report higher levels of concern than fathers, with 61% of mothers saying they are highly concerned compared with 47% of fathers.
Black parents of teens report the highest concern levels overall. Around 70% say they are extremely or very concerned about teen mental health. The share is smaller among White parents at 55% and Hispanic parents at 52%.
Teens Trust Parents and Friends More
When it comes to opening up about mental health, teens tend to trust personal relationships more than professional support systems.
About 52% of teens say they would feel extremely or very comfortable talking with a parent about their mental health. Around 48% say the same about speaking with a friend.
Comfort levels are lower for professional or school-based support. Only 31% say they would feel very comfortable talking with a mental health therapist. Around 26% feel comfortable discussing these topics with another family member, while only 12% say they would feel comfortable speaking with a teacher.
The latest Pew Research Center surveys show a country paying closer attention to mental health than ever before. Most Americans rate their mental health positively and many are making an effort to protect it. Even so, younger adults, lower-income households, and teenagers continue to report higher levels of emotional concern.
The findings also reveal how trust shapes mental health conversations. People are far more likely to open up to close friends, partners, or parents than to co-workers, neighbors, or authority figures.
As awareness grows, these patterns may continue to shape how Americans seek support and discuss emotional well-being in daily life.
