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Mental Health Matters: What the Data Reveals

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.

     

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