Mental health and well-being decline among young U.S. adults

Recent data indicates a significant decline in the mental health and perceived well-being of young adults in the United States. According to a CDC report, the percentage of adults aged 18 to 29 reporting frequent mental distress—defined as poor mental health, stress, or emotional problems on 14 or more days out of a 30-day period—rose from 12.7% in 2012 to 21.3% in 2024. While this figure peaked at 23.7% in 2022 and has seen slight annual declines since, the long-term trend remains upward.

Complementary findings from Gallup show a sharp decrease in the number of young adults who consider themselves ‘thriving.’ In 2010, 64% of Americans in the 18-to-29 age bracket reported thriving, a figure that has dropped to 44% as of 2026. Gallup attributes this decline, much of which has occurred since 2019, to worsening social well-being, increased loneliness, and higher rates of depression, particularly among younger men.