Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and advocating for better health care.
Mental Health by the Numbers is based on the most current and representative sources available, according to NAMI. Data is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and others. Infographics include statistics that NAMI believes will be most useful to a general audience. Infographic sources, as well as sources for additional statistics, are included in hyperlinks below.
Fast Facts
More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
More than 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
More than 1 in 7 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-24
You Are Not Alone
Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day.
23.4% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2024 (61.5 million people). This represents more than 1 in 5 adults.
5.6% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2024 (14.6 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.
16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people). This represents more than 1 in 7 youth.
Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by condition:
Schizophrenia: <1%
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: 1.2%
Borderline Personality Disorder: 1.4%
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1.2%
Bipolar I Disorder: 1.5%
Bipolar Disorder: 2.8%
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 4.1%
Co-occurring Substance Use Disorder and Mental Illness: 8.1%
Major Depressive Disorder: 15.5%
Anxiety Disorders: 19.1%
Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:*
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 12.2%
Non-Hispanic Asian: 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino: 20.7%
Non-Hispanic Black: 20.9%
Non-Hispanic White: 25.1%
Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 25.9%
Non-Hispanic Multiracial: 35.5%
Male:† 20.0%
Female:† 26.7%
Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 53.2%
*Not all U.S. populations listed due to limited data availability
†Reflects sex assigned at birth
Reviewed and updated 2025
Mental Health Care Matters
52.1% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2024
70.8% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2024
50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016
The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years
Annual treatment rates among U.S. adults with mental illness, by demographic group:*
Non-Hispanic Asian: 32.5%
Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 38.5%
Hispanic or Latino: 44.1%
Non-Hispanic Two or More Races/Multiracial: 52.0%
Non-Hispanic White: 57.9%
Male:† 42.1%
Female:† 59.2%
Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 63.1%
9.6% of U.S. adults with mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2024
10.9% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2024
120+ million people live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area
*Not all U.S. populations listed due to limited data availability
†Reflects sex assigned at birth
Reviewed and updated 2025
The Ripple Effect Of Mental Illness
Having a mental illness can make it challenging to live everyday life and maintain recovery. Beyond the individual, these challenges ripple out through our families, our communities, and our world.
PERSON
Risk of cardiometabolic disease is up to 2x higher in people with mental illness compared to people without mental illness
People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiac disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity than the general population
34.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also have a substance use disorder
6.9% of U.S. adults with mental illness are unemployed compared to 4.3% of U.S. adults without mental illness
High school students with recent symptoms of depression are more than 2x as likely to drop out compared to their peers
Students ages 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral problems are more than 2x as likely to repeat a grade
FAMILY
At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue
Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care
COMMUNITY
In 2024, 18.1% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S had a serious mental illness
12.3% of emergency department visits made by U.S. adults each year are related to mental health
Mental health and substance use conditions led to more than 1.65 million inpatient hospitalizations in the U.S. in 2022
Among people in the U.S. under age 18, depressive disorders are the #2 cause of inpatient hospitalizations after excluding those related to pregnancy and birth
17.6% of U.S. Veterans experienced a mental illness in 2023 (3.5 million people)
9.6% of Active Component service members in the U.S. military experienced a mental health or substance use condition in 2021
Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year
Schizophrenia led to an excess economic burden of $343.2 billion in the U.S. in 2019
WORLD
Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year
Globally, mental health disorders are the leading cause of years lived with disability
Reviewed and updated 2025
Common Warning Signs Of Mental Illness
Diagnosing mental illness isn’t a straightforward science. We can’t test for it the same way we can test blood sugar levels for diabetes. Each condition has its own set of unique symptoms, though symptoms often overlap.
It’s Okay To Talk About Suicide
Thoughts of suicide can be frightening. But by reaching out for help or checking in with family and friends, we can avoid devastating outcomes.
Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. in 2023.
Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-14 and among people ages 15-24 in the U.S. in 2023.
1 person dies by suicide in the U.S. about every 11 minutes.
46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition
90% of people who die by suicide may have experienced symptoms of a mental health disorder, according to interviews with family, friends and medical professionals (also known as psychological autopsy)
Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide among U.S. adults, by demographic group:
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 2.6%
Non-Hispanic Asian: 4.4%
Non-Hispanic White: 5.4%
Hispanic or Latino: 5.4%
Non-Hispanic Black: 5.5%
Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 7.3%
Non-Hispanic Multiracial: 10.7%
Male:† 5.5%
Female:† 5.5%
Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 18.0%
79% of people who die by suicide in the U.S. are male‡
The suicide rate is nearly 4x higher among males‡ than females‡ in the U.S.
Transgender adults are nearly 9x more likely to attempt suicide at some point in their lifetime compared to the general population
†Reflects sex assigned at birth
‡Reflects sex reported at death
Reviewed and updated 2025
Youth and Young Adult Mental Health
DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC
You Are Not Alone
16.5% of U.S. youth ages 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)
40% of U.S. high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023
65% of U.S. LGBTQ+ high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023
In 2023, 29% of U.S. high school students experienced poor mental health in the past 30 days
In 2023, 53% of U.S. LGBTQ+ high school students experienced poor mental health in the past 30 days
32.2% of U.S. young adults ages 18-25 experienced mental illness in 2024 (11.6 million people)
66% of U.S. LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-24 reported experiencing recent symptoms of anxiety in 2023
53% of U.S. LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-24 reported experiencing recent symptoms of depression in 2023
Mental Health Care Matters
50.6% of U.S. youth ages 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016
49.9% of U.S. young adults ages 18-25 with a mental illness received treatment in 2024
It’s Okay to Talk About Suicide
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-14 and among people ages 15-24 in the U.S.
20% of U.S. high school students had serious thoughts of suicide in 2023
41% of U.S. LGBTQ+ high school students had serious thoughts of suicide in 2023
U.S. LGBTQ+ high school students are over 3x more likely to attempt suicide compared to their straight, cisgender peers
39% of U.S. LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-24 had serious thoughts of suicide in 2023
12.6% of U.S. young adults ages 18-25 had serious thoughts of suicide in 2024
Mental Health Belongs in School
More than two thirds of U.S. public schools report an increase in students seeking mental health services at school since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
Only 56% of U.S. public schools say they can effectively provide mental health services to all students in need
Reviewed and updated 2025
2020: Recognizing The Impact
2020 was a year of challenges, marked by loss and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We must recognize the significant impact of the pandemic on our mental health—and the importance of increasing access to timely and effective care for those who need it.
1 in 15 U.S adults experienced both a substance use disorder and mental illness
12+ million U.S adults had serious thoughts of suicide
1 in 5 U.S adults report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health
45% of those with mental illness
55% of those with serious mental illness
Among people aged 12 and older who drink alcohol, 15% report increased drinking
Among people aged 12 and older who use drugs, 10% report increased use
Among U.S. adults who received mental health services:
26.3 million U.S adults received virtual mental health services in the past year
34% of those with mental illness
50% of those with serious mental illness
2020: Youth & Young Adults
Youth and young adults experienced a unique set of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic—isolation from peers, adapting to virtual learning, and changes to sleep habits and other routines.
We must recognize the significant impact of these experiences on young people’s mental health—and the importance of providing the education, care and support they need.
Among U.S. adolescents (aged 12-17):
1 in 6 experienced a major depressive episode (MDE)
3 million had serious thoughts of suicide
31% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits
Among U.S. young adults (aged 18-25):
1 in 3 experienced a mental illness
1 in 10 experienced a serious mental illness
3.8 million had serious thoughts of suicide
1 in 5 young people report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health
18% of adolescents
23% of young adults
Nearly ½ of young people with mental health concerns report a significant negative impact
1 in 10 people under age 18 experience a mental health condition following a COVID-19 diagnosis
Increased use of alcohol among those who drink:
15% of adolescents
18% of young adults
Increased use of drugs among those who use:
15% of adolescents
19% of young adults
Mental Illness And The Criminal Justice System
People with mental illness deserve help, not handcuffs. Yet people with mental illness are overrepresented in our nation’s jails and prisons. We need to reduce criminal justice system involvement and increase investments in mental health care.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
About 2 million times each year, people with serious mental illness are booked into jails.
About 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails).
66% of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison.
Nearly one in four people shot and killed by police officers between 2015 and 2020 had a mental health condition.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.
An estimated 4,000 people with serious mental illness are held in solitary confinement inside U.S. prisons.
COMMUNITIES
70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition.
Youth in detention are 10 times more likely to suffer from psychosis than youth in the community.
About 50,000 veterans are held in local jails — 55% report experiencing a mental illness.
Among incarcerated people with a mental health condition, non-white individuals are more likely to go to solitary confinement, be injured, and stay longer in jail.
ACCESS TO CARE
About 3 in 5 people (63%) with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons.
Less than half of people (45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails.
People who have healthcare coverage upon release from incarceration are more likely to engage in services that reduce recidivism.
Mental Health & Access To Care In Rural America
People from all communities are affected by mental illness, but rural Americans often experience unique barriers to managing their mental health.
Among U.S. adults in nonmetropolitan areas, 2020:
21% experienced mental illness
6% experienced serious mental illness
13% experienced a substance use disorder
5% had serious thoughts of suicide
Access to Treatment is Severely Limited
Among U.S adults in nonmetropolitan areas, 2020:
48% with a mental illness received treatment
62% with a serious mental illness received treatment
Compared to suburban and urban residents, rural Americans:
Must travel 2x as far to their nearest hospital
Are 2x as likely to lack broadband internet, limiting access to telehealth
25+ Million rural Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, where there are too few providers to meet demand
Some Populations Face Additional Challenges
53% of rural adults say the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health
66% of farmers and farmworkers
71% of younger adults aged 18-34
Many rural states have a postpartum depression rate higher than the national average of 13%:
21% in Alabama
22% in Mississippi
23% in Arkansas
Rural youth are at an increased risk of suicide, but highly rural areas have fewer youth suicide prevention services