A landmark survey has revealed that Americans' perception of their own psychological wellbeing has plummeted to an unprecedented low. The findings, drawn from a significant Gallup poll released this week, present a stark picture of the nation's collective state of mind amidst ongoing social and economic pressures.
A Steep Decline in Self-Assessed Wellbeing
The data shows a concerning downward trend. For the first time, fewer than 30% of American adults now describe their mental health as "excellent." Furthermore, the combined total of those rating their mental health as either "good" or "excellent" has also fallen to a record low of 72%. This marks a significant shift from the pre-2020 era, where consistently over 42% of Americans reported excellent mental health.
Experts point to the seismic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as a primary catalyst for this decline. However, they also suggest the figures may contain a paradoxical sign of progress. David Radley, a senior scientist at the Commonwealth Fund, argues that increased cultural openness means people are now more willing to acknowledge they are struggling.
"In some ways, people acknowledging and being willing to talk about mental health struggles is actually a good sign," Radley stated. This view is supported by Dr Lisa Rosenthal, a psychiatry professor at Northwestern University, who believes the numbers "might be a signal that stigma is improving and people are more aware of psychiatric symptoms."
Beyond the Pandemic: A Multifaceted Crisis
While reduced stigma plays a part, analysts agree the root causes are profound and multifaceted. The trauma of the pandemic is compounded by other significant stressors, including deep political divisions and economic uncertainty. Dr Rosenthal notes that a degree of decline in mental health is an expected reaction to such turbulent times.
"Not all unhappiness is something that needs to be treated, and some reactions are totally normal, even if they’re very unpleasant," she explained. She highlighted politics as a common source of distress cited by patients from all backgrounds, with particular emphasis on the extraordinarily high stress levels experienced by immigrants in the current climate.
The poll also uncovered a notable shift in demographics traditionally associated with robust mental health. The number of Republicans rating their mental health as "excellent" fell from 53% (2014-2019) to 40% (2020-2025), bringing them closer to the figures for Democrats. Similarly, the proportion of college graduates reporting excellent mental health dropped by 17 percentage points to 36%, aligning them more closely with non-graduates (30%).
Diagnosis and Disconnection in a Polarised Society
Parallel data from a White Paper by the non-profit Fair Health confirms a dramatic rise in mental health diagnoses since 2019. This includes conditions potentially linked to pandemic stress, like generalised anxiety disorder, as well as neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, which are increasingly recognised in adulthood due to greater awareness, often spurred by social media content.
Despite these converging health outcomes, Dr Rosenthal warns of a growing societal rift. "There’s just so much anger that civility and discourse have been so disrupted. We can’t talk to each other, and our sense of community and belonging has been altered dramatically," she said. David Radley summarised the pervasive anxiety, noting, "A lot of shoes feel like they’re about to drop for a lot of people. I don’t think the shoes dropping discriminates."
The poll ultimately paints a complex portrait of an American public grappling with unprecedented challenges. While the record-low ratings are a clear cause for public health concern, the increased willingness to identify and discuss mental health struggles may represent a crucial first step towards addressing the nation's psychological wellbeing.
