Seven in 10 Americans say economic uncertainty is the highest ever, as costs rise and access to professional support is limited.
investigation Of the 2,000 people, 76% of respondents found themselves lonely in their efforts to calm money-related stress.
This growing financial pressure is at the expense of it. One in five said their mental health has declined over the past year, with 40% taking mental health leave from work or school.
Research conducted on behalf of Talker Research On-demand by included healthfound that 41% experienced chronic physical pain and 70% believed that mental health quality is directly related to physical health.
Medical expenses exacerbate mental health tensions
The tension in financial anxiety is exacerbated by rising costs of healthcare. A third (33%) of respondents said that affordability in health care has had a direct impact on mental health over the past year, with affordability being cited as the biggest barrier to professional mental health care by 29% of respondents.
Millennials and ZZ are disproportionately affected, with 40% of millennials and 37% of Gen Z reporting that healthcare costs are hurting their mental well-being.
“Americans are not just aware of the importance of mental health. They are actively shaping the daily habits around them,” says Dr. Dana Udall. “We are more people realising how deeply mental and physical health is related, and even factors like our financial health are really having a huge impact.
“That’s why it’s more important than ever to rely on supporting all aspects of health to expand access to high quality, affordable care that treats the whole thing as lasting happiness.”
However, while awareness is growing, access to professional support remains limited.
Only 14% of respondents said they are currently undergoing treatment or counseling. Another 25% said they tried a treatment and did it again, while 27% said they were interested in trying it for the first time.
What holds people down? For one in three people, the answer is cost. Others pointed to emotional or logistical challenges, including the difficulty of finding the right provider (10%) and lack of time (7%).
Still, Americans do what they can to take care of their mental health in a daily way. Seven in ten said they are actively working to prioritize their happiness through habits such as listening to music (65%), older hobbies (51%) and more, including adequate sleep (48%), exercise (48%) and working hours with loved ones (46%).
Physical activity and openness help to reduce stress
71% of respondents used weekly physical activity to manage their stress, and 61% said they would openly talk about their mental health with their loved ones.
“It’s encouraging to see people look to music, hobbies, rest and connections to support their mental health,” said Ami Parekh (MD), JD, who is Health’s chief health officer. “These habits reflect a natural understanding of deep intertwining mental and physical health. Supporting a person in one place not only improves outcomes, but lowers costs, particularly during periods of growing financial anxiety.”
Research method:
Talker surveys surveyed 2,000 Americans;The investigation was commissioned by On-demand by included health Managed and implemented online by Talker Research March 31st – April 3rd, 2025.
