UnitedHealthcare Survey: 62 Percent of Young Adults Report Mental Health Struggles in Past Year
A new UnitedHealthcare survey released April 28 found that 62 percent of young adults and college students reported mental or behavioral health concerns in the past year. College students showed higher rates than non-enrolled peers, and one in four cited cost as a barrier to getting help.
A survey released by UnitedHealthcare on April 28, 2026, found that 62 percent of young adults and college students reported experiencing mental or behavioral health concerns in the past year, a level that has remained consistent over the last four years.
The fourth annual Young Adult and College Student Behavioral Health Report surveyed Americans aged 18 to 28. Among college students specifically, 69 percent reported personal mental health challenges, compared to 54 percent of young adults not enrolled in college. Anxiety and stress, depression, and ADD/ADHD were the most commonly reported issues.
The survey also found a significant gap between what students experience and what their parents believe. While 69 percent of college students reported mental health concerns, only 43 percent of parents thought their children had experienced such issues.
Cost remains a major barrier to care. Twenty-five percent of young adults who did not seek help cited the expense of treatment as the reason.
Digital tools are playing a growing role in how young people manage their mental health. Thirty-one percent of respondents said they or their friends had used AI-based platforms for symptom exploration, information gathering, or coping strategies. Twenty-six percent of those users turned to AI platforms for companionship or emotional support.
"These numbers tell us that mental health challenges among young people are not improving," said a UnitedHealthcare spokesperson. "We need to keep expanding access to care and reducing the cost barriers that stop people from getting help."
UnitedHealthcare said it offers behavioral health resources including 24/7 phone support, digital tools, employee and student assistance programs, peer support, and both in-person and virtual care options.
The survey was conducted online with a nationally representative sample of young adults and college students across the United States.
