Global Mental Health Is Worsening, APA Report Finds, With 39 Percent of Adults Reporting Daily Worry
A new American Psychological Association report finds that 39 percent of adults worldwide reported worrying a lot the previous day in 2025, with negative emotions highest in conflict-affected regions. In the U.S., only 29 percent of adults now rate their mental health as excellent, down from 43 percent before the pandemic.
Global mental health is getting worse, according to a September 2026 report from the American Psychological Association. In 2025, 39 percent of adults worldwide said they worried a lot the previous day. Stress affected 37 percent, sadness 26 percent, and anger 22 percent.
Negative emotional states were highest in countries experiencing active violence and conflict. The APA report notes that war, displacement, and economic instability are driving much of the global decline.
In the United States, the picture is also concerning. Only 29 percent of U.S. adults now rate their mental health as excellent, down from 43 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline is sharpest among young, college-educated adults.
At the same time, more Americans are seeking help. In 2025, 24 percent of U.S. adults visited a mental health professional, up from 13 percent in 2004. Gen Z and millennials are driving that increase, averaging more than four visits per year. They use mental health services at more than double the rate of older generations.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Center for Mental Health Implementation Support released new resources this month focused on building community-based support systems and involving people with lived experience in program design.
The APA is also preparing new adult ADHD guidelines aimed at reducing misdiagnosis and improving screening for conditions that often occur alongside ADHD.
