Mental Health Struggles in America: A Guide to Finding Support

Key Takeaways:

• Young Adults Prefer Anonymity and Distance: Gen Z and young millennials are open to addressing their mental health, but many feel apprehensive about opening up to family or doctors, with 52% feeling comfortable using AI chatbots and 30% preferring to discuss their mental health anonymously.
• Systemic Shifts Are Needed for Accessible Care: Solving the mental health crisis requires normalizing honest conversations, achieving policy and insurance equality between mental and physical health, increasing early screenings, and expanding affordable, flexible access like telehealth and sliding-scale care.
• Healing Requires Proactive, Actionable Steps at Every Stage: Whether you are a parent building a foundation of support, a teen practicing self-advocacy, or a young adult exploring options like group therapy and financial resources (like HSAs or FSAs), taking ownership of your mental wellness is a sign of strength.

Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Helene Simons, Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology)

With unprecedented events seemingly happening every few weeks over the past 5 years, it’s no wonder that so many Americans deal with mental health struggles. While the negative stigma and stereotypes attached to mental health have begun to lessen in recent years, there are still so many Americans struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns. In this article, we’re going to cover what mental health in America looks like in 2025 and how you can take steps to help yourself and those around you cope and find healing.

Mental Health Struggles in America

Despite recent cultural shifts toward openness, there are still undeniable lasting effects on the overall health of those in America. Everyone is seeing or feeling it: according to a poll conducted by the CNN/Kaiser Family Foundation, 90% of Americans feel that we are in a mental health crisis. While a majority of adults in the U.S. (84%) have stated they would feel comfortable talking to a doctor or a therapist about their mental health, younger adults (ages 18 – 34) are more likely to feel negatively about their mental health and less likely to talk to a family member or therapist about it (76%). 

Despite their reluctance to seek professional help or even open up to their families about their mental health struggles, young adults seem to be finding their own ways of coping: about half of adults ages 18-34 (52%) said they would feel comfortable discussing their mental health with an artificial intelligence chatbot. Also, 30% of young adults would prefer to talk about their mental health anonymously rather than with someone they know. These stats suggest that younger adults may feel safer engaging in conversations about their mental health when they can maintain distance or do so anonymously.

So, what does this mean? Gen Z and young millennials are willing to discuss their mental health and find solutions, but they are more likely to do so quietly, without revealing themselves. This tells us that even though progress has been made when it comes to negative stigmas around mental health, younger generations are still apprehensive about opening up and seeking the care they need.

Finding a Solution to the Mental Health Crisis

To encourage young adults in the U.S. to be more open about their mental health struggles and seek the help they need to find support and healing, several systemic and cultural shifts are needed:

• Normalize the Conversation: We must continue to engage in conversations about mental health, especially with teens and young adults, to normalize seeking help and destigmatize the process.

• Prioritize Seamless Access to Care: Access to mental health care needs to be immediately available and easily navigable. This includes increasing virtual (telehealth) options and making anonymous, safe entry points available for young adults.

• Achieve Equality with Physical Health: Mental health should be viewed and treated with the same importance as physical health across insurance, policy, and cultural spheres. This removes barriers and discourages those who are struggling from avoiding care.

• Increase Early Screening and Intervention: The use of validated mental health assessment tools needs to be dramatically increased in non-traditional settings like schools, pediatricians’ offices, and primary care settings for awareness, early detection, and intervention.

• Emphasize Empowerment Over Labeling: Mental health education needs to shift away from defining people by a disorder. Instead, we must emphasize a strengths-based approach that focuses on a person’s resilience, autonomy, and capacity for growth.

• Address Financial Barriers: Solutions must address the financial cost of care. Expanding affordable options, such as sliding-scale services and payment plans, makes care a reality rather than a luxury for young people just starting out.

How to Be Proactive in Combatting the Mental Health Struggles in America

The good news is that change is possible and everyone possesses the strength to move towards healing. Being proactive starts with normalizing the conversation around mental health struggles and prioritizing your well-being. Whether you’re the parent of a young adult or you yourself are a young adult with mental health struggles, here are practical steps no matter where you fall on the scale: 

For Parents: Building a Foundation of Support

Normalize the Conversation: Talk openly and often with your children about mental health, validating their feelings and curiosity. Let them know it’s okay to struggle and even better to ask for help.

Prioritize Screening: At your child’s next check-up, ask their pediatrician or family doctor to conduct mental health screens. Early detection makes a huge difference.

Lead by Example: Commit to your own well-being. Find a therapist for yourself and consistently practice your own self-care. This model of resilience shows your children that mental health is a priority, not a weakness.

Find Professional Support: If you notice consistent struggles, take the proactive step of finding a therapist for your child.

For Teens: Finding Your Voice and Tools

Practice Self-Advocacy: You don’t have to carry your challenges alone. Find a trusted adult, whether it’s a parent, teacher, friend, or school counselor, and ask for help.

Build Your Toolkit: Experiment with accessible self-care strategies like journaling, deep breathing exercises, short walks, or listening to music. Finding simple ways to regulate your nervous system is a powerful tool.

For College Students: Navigating Transitions

Utilize Campus Resources: Your school wants you to succeed. Go to the school counseling center to look into the free and affordable mental health services available on campus.

Structure for Success: Be intentional about your schedule. Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and downtime (not just study time) to build a routine that truly supports your mental health needs.

Find Your Community: Build a network of trusted friends or mentors who provide genuine support, rather than adding pressure.

Talk to Your Family: If possible, talk to your parents or family about the issues you are having. They can be a key source of financial and emotional support.

For Young Adults: Taking Ownership of Your Care

Seek Professional Support: Take the initiative to find a therapist who is the right fit for you. Remember that finding the right match can take time, and that’s okay.

Explore Affordable Options: Look into group therapy as a highly effective and often more affordable option for treatment.

Know Your Financial Resources: Find out if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that can help offset the cost of treatment.

Build Your Network: Talk openly about mental health with your friends and build a supportive community. If needed, explore resources like local support groups for addiction or other specific struggles.

Finding Healing Together

The truth is, mental health struggles in America are real, common, and understandable—and you do not have to navigate them alone. While systemic change is necessary, your personal journey toward healing doesn’t have to wait. Taking the step to ask for support is an act of incredible strength, not weakness. If you or a loved one is searching for clarity, tools, or a safe, nonjudgmental space to grow, we are here for you. 

At Simons Therapy, we offer individualized, evidence-based care through flexible telehealth across 43 states or in-person sessions. We provide not just therapy, but also psychological assessments to help you understand what’s going on so you can truly thrive. You deserve to feel seen, supported, and understood. Let’s take the next step together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are younger adults reluctant to seek traditional mental health support?

Short Answer: Despite a growing cultural openness, young adults often fear judgment or stigma and prefer entry points that offer privacy, distance, or anonymity.
Explanation: Research shows that while a large majority of U.S. adults feel comfortable speaking with a professional, younger adults (ages 18–34) are less likely to open up to family or traditional providers. Instead, many turn to anonymous platforms or digital resources first. Bridging this gap requires creating low-barrier, safe, and confidential entry points (such as telehealth options) where young adults feel secure seeking support without feeling exposed.

What can parents do to proactively support their child’s mental health before a crisis happens?

Short Answer: Talk openly about mental health, ask for routine screenings at doctor check-ups, and model healthy self-care and therapy habits in your own life.
Explanation: Early intervention makes a significant difference in a young person’s emotional resilience. Parents can build a strong foundation by regularly validating their child’s feelings, requesting mental health screenings at pediatric visits, and seeking professional support at the first signs of consistent struggle. Leading by example by prioritizing your own mental health shows your child that asking for help is an act of strength, not a failure.

How can young adults and college students make mental health care fit their budget?

Short Answer: Explore on-campus counseling centers, utilize group therapy, check for HSA or FSA coverage, and seek out providers offering sliding-scale options.
Explanation: Financial cost is one of the most significant barriers to care for young adults starting out. Students can take advantage of free or low-cost mental health services directly on campus. For those seeking independent care, options like group therapy, leveraging flexible spending accounts, or choosing flexible virtual therapy can significantly offset out-of-pocket costs while delivering dedicated support.