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Mental Health Matters: What the Data Reveals

Mental Health Matters: What the Data Reveals

by | May 12, 2026 | Current Events, Resources for Resilience

Mental Health: a dynamic state of psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing that enables people to cope with stress, cultivate relationships, realize potential, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time to reflect on our wellbeing as individuals and as a collective.

Mental health is complex as it is not only shaped by our genetics, but also the world around us: our access to basic resources, safety and support, our sense of purpose, as well as our relationships with others. All of these factors inevitably influence how we think, feel, connect, work, and cope with life, whether we’re at home, at work, or in our communities.

But awareness alone is not enough. Small actions matter when it comes to cultivating mental health in ourselves and others.

Nearly 1 in 2 people globally now see mental health as their country’s biggest health problem. In 2018, it was 1 in 4.

Mental Health By the Numbers

According to the 2025 Ipsos Health Service Report, which collected responses from 23,274 adults across 34 countries, mental health has become a central concern for adults – even above physical health concerns like disease, substance abuse, and more.

  • 45% of people worldwide identify mental health as top concern.
  • 44% of Americans aged 18–34 say they feel stress or anxiety on most days.
According to a global survey, mental health has overtaken cancer as the world’s most cited health concern, rising from 27% in 2017 to 45% in 2024.

    Barriers to Access

    According to the CDC, from 2019 to 2023, the percentage of adults who had received any mental health treatment in a year span had increased from 19% to 24%. This shows that growing awareness, reduced stigma, and increased willingness to prioritize mental wellbeing.

    Unfortunately many people still face obstacles when trying to get professional mental health care. The data shows that while people are more willing to talk about mental health, structural challenges continue to limit access.

    • 49% of Americans say cost is the biggest barrier to mental health care, while 28% cite limited availability.
    • 36% of global respondents report that mental health services are either too expensive or too scarce.
    The data makes it clear: mental health has become a societal priority. Awareness is strong, but the next step is ensuring that professional care is actually accessible, affordable, and tailored to people’s needs.  

    The Good News

    One of the most promising trends is the growing comfort people feel discussing mental health. This is a huge step forward in continuing to reduce stigma.

    People are also learning to become their own health advocates by seeking help in more flexible, self-directed ways including wellness tech, apps, online therapy, and other digital platforms.

    • 57% of US respondents say they can talk about mental health with friends or family. Worldwide, that number is 52% (up from 46% in 2023.)
    The keys to strengthening mental wellbeing: moving the body more, staying connected to others, improving communications and support systems at home and work, and asking for help.

    Looking Forward

    Mental wellbeing isn’t just about coping as an individual— it’s about connection, empathy, understanding, and shared progress. It’s about COMMUNITY.

    When we talk, listen, and support each other, we don’t just reduce stigma — we build a healthier, more understanding world for all.

    As the data shows, awareness alone isn’t enough. People need practical tools, supportive relationships, and accessible ways to regulate their nervous systems in the face of stress, uncertainty, and change.

    That’s where Resources For Resilience steps in.  We are helping to address the global mental health crisis by providing practical, accessible tools that people can use anytime, anywhere to stay grounded and recover from stress.

    Our evidence‑informed practices, and trauma‑aware education programs help strengthens people’s capacity to support themselves, and one another, thereby reducing the burden on chronically overwhelmed mental‑health systems.

    By teaching skills that make regulation possible even in the most challenging moments, we’re working to ensure that resilience isn’t just an idea, but a lived experience. Want to get involved?

    Thank you for being a part of the solution to reduce the stigma around mental health. Together we’re strengthening our resilience, one connection and one community at a time.

    Resources for Resilience is helping to mitigate the global mental health crisis by facilitating conversation and practices that reduce stigma, and empower people of all ages to be their own health advocates. We are helping communities build resilience from the ground up.

     

    OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES:

    Resources For Resilience Named 2026 Recipient of ‘Good Health Good Business’ Award

    Resources For Resilience Named 2026 Recipient of ‘Good Health Good Business’ Award

    by | May 4, 2026 | Resources for Resilience

    Resources For Resilience is proud to announce that we are the recipients of the 2026 Good Health Good Business’ Award from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

     

    This award recognizes Chamber-member organizations that demonstrate service and exceptional leadership which have resulted in improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of the Asheville area through strategic partnerships, employee wellness initiatives, and other valuable community programming.

    “At Resources For Resilience, we believe that everyone has the ability to deepen their resilience and experience better days. That is why we offer a variety of evidence-informed and resiliency-focused training programs to help individuals, organizations stay healthy and connected during tough times.” says Ann Dupre Rogers, our Executive Director and one of the organization’s key founders.

    “These practical tools and strategies help to support people to regulate stress in real time, to build emotional resilience and stay grounded during high‑pressure moments,” Dupre noted. “Participants often share these tools with their families, coworkers and community groups, creating a ripple effect of calm, resilience and healthier interactions throughout Asheville.”

    Below is a transcript of the small, informal award presentation that occured on May 1st at the ‘Asheville Chamber Challenge’ event:

    Kit Cramer, President & CEO of Asheville Chamber of Commerce: This award is for a business or organization who goes above and beyond in promoting wellness, both for their employees and for the community at large. This year, Mission Health, our ‘Good Health Good Business’ award sponsor, along with Eaton and Givens communities, reviewed the nominations we received and selected our award winner. I’d like to call on Annie Carpenter, Annie Carpenter, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at Mission Health to present the award. Please join me in welcoming her.

    Annie Carpenter, AVP of Community Engagement at Mission Health:  Thanks, everybody. My name is Annie. I’m so happy to be here today on this beautiful day, as we’re kicking off the month together. Today is May Day. It’s also Stroke Awareness month in May. And at Mission Health, we know that the best way to prevent stroke is by prevention through lifestyle and all of those (healthy habits) that the Chamber is inspiring today by getting us out here on a beautiful day to move together. So congratulations for taking care of yourself, and your future self, today. Did you know it’s also Mental Health Awareness Month? That is another wonderful cause that I am proud to support through this ‘Good Health Good Business’ award, because this year, it is going to someone that happened to provide me personally with some resilience skills that I use to this day.

    The organization I am presenting this award to today is very meaningful to me because I learned about terms like ‘flipping my lid’ and the ‘reptilian brain’ and how to help get my children, or myself, back ‘online’ when I am feeling very stressed. And I’m not kidding, I think it changed my life. I’m pretty serious about that. So what I get to do today is tell you a little bit about the organization who is winning this award, and  share a little bit about some of the wonderful things that they have done this past year, and continue to do.

    Within their organization staff can spend one hour each day engaging in physical activity of their choice. They begin every staff meeting with a brief rapid reset or moment of connection. After every five years of employment, staff can take a one month sabbatical.  As you can see, it’s pretty clear that they value the wellness and well being of their employees.

    For the community, they offer FREE workshops, trainings and other community events offering emotional care and practical tools. Their signature workshops help individuals build personalized resilience plans that support both self care and overall well being. They also offer Resilient Family Adventures, an interactive, hands on experience where families learn practical resilience skills together in fun, memorable and easy to apply ways.

    Within days of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in WNC, the Resources for Resilience team had boots on the ground for in-person crisis response, supplying dozens of hours of support at emergency centers, community hubs, and distribution sites. Since then, they’ve continued to provide resilience-focused support for healing and recovery, with a special focus on supporting those most at risk for burnout: first responders, educators, healthcare workers, behavioral health providers and volunteers. So on behalf of Mission Health, your hospital partner, I’m very proud to present the ‘Good Health Good Business’ award to Resources for Resilience!

    Ashley Putnam, Director of Programs & Partnership: Thank you, I’m crying.  It’s so sweet to know that over so many years, you remember the tools. That’s what we want.  We truly, I feel like do walk the walk. We can’t get out and teach the stress management skills and talk about being in your resilient zone and supporting your own wellness, if we’re not doing that internally with our team. And so every part of our conversation, daily, weekly, is really rooted in connection and wellness of our staff. We are committed to wellness, to resilience, internally as well as externally, with our communities. So I would love for everybody to check out our website, join a training, join a family event. We all deserve better days. We all have resilience. We just gotta sometimes tap into it a little more. Thank you for this award. We’re so, so honored.

     

     

    Thank you to all of our funders, partners, staff, and volunteers who make this work possible. We are grateful for the recognition that our small organization is making a BIG impact in the community, and we look forward to continuing for years to come.