Mental illness is common in the United States, and the most recent federal data make the scale hard to overstate: 23.4% of U.S. adults — an estimated 61.5 million people — had any mental illness in the past year, and 5.6% (14.6 million) had a serious mental illness (SAMHSA, 2024). This is the flagship annual roundup of where the numbers stand as of 2026, pulling the headline figures for depression, anxiety, suicide, substance use, and youth mental health into one place.
A note on the data. These are 2026 figures in the sense that they are the most recent numbers available in 2026 — not the product of a survey fielded in 2026. The newest national survey is the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released by SAMHSA in July 2025, and the newest finalized mortality data run through 2024. Throughout, we state the data year for every figure and keep different instruments separate, because a symptom screen and a diagnostic survey measure different things and should never be blended into one headline.
Each section below gives the headline number and links out to the deeper single-topic article or condition pillar where the full breakdown lives. For the broadest view, see the national mental health overview and the any mental illness pillar.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
Key Numbers at a Glance
The biggest figures from the latest data, with their sources and years:
- 61.5 million U.S. adults (23.4%) had any mental illness in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2024)
- 14.6 million adults (5.6%) had a serious mental illness in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2024)
- 52.1% of adults with any mental illness received treatment in the past year (SAMHSA, 2024)
- 21.4 million adults (8.2%) had a past-year major depressive episode in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2024)
- 19.4 million adults (7.4%) had moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2024)
- 48,824 people died by suicide in 2024 — a rate of 13.7 per 100,000 (CDC, 2024)
- 48.4 million people (16.8%) had a substance use disorder in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2024)
- 79,384 drug overdose deaths in 2024 — down 26.2% from 2023, the largest single-year drop on record (CDC, 2024)
- 40% of U.S. high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2023 (CDC, 2023)
Any Mental Illness and Treatment
Any mental illness (AMI) covers any diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, ranging from mild to severe. In 2024, 23.4% of adults (61.5 million) met that bar, and 5.6% (14.6 million) had a serious mental illness (SMI) — one causing serious functional impairment (SAMHSA, 2024). When substance use disorders are included, 33.0% of adults (86.6 million) had either a mental illness or a substance use disorder in the past year.
The treatment gap is one of the most important numbers in the field. Just 52.1% of adults with AMI — about 32.0 million people — received any mental health treatment in the past year (SAMHSA, 2024). Coverage was better for the most severe cases: 70.8% of adults with SMI (10.3 million) got treatment, still leaving nearly three in ten without care. Treatment rates were broadly similar across adult age groups: 49.9% for ages 18–25, 53.0% for 26–49, and 52.0% for 50 and older.
Prevalence is heavily concentrated among the young. Among young adults ages 18–25, 33.2% (11.6 million) had any mental illness in 2024 — the highest of any adult age band (SAMHSA, 2024).
By sex, the most recent published breakdown comes from the 2022 NSDUH: AMI affected 23.1% of adults overall, with a notable gap between women (26.4%) and men (19.7%) (NIMH, 2022). SMI followed the same pattern — 7.1% of women versus 4.8% of men. By age in that 2022 data, AMI reached 36.2% among 18–25-year-olds, 29.4% among 26–49, and fell to 13.9% among adults 50 and older.
| Measure (adults 18+) | Percent | Number | Data year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any mental illness (AMI) | 23.4% | 61.5 million | 2024 |
| Serious mental illness (SMI) | 5.6% | 14.6 million | 2024 |
| AMI, ages 18–25 | 33.2% | 11.6 million | 2024 |
| Received treatment (AMI) | 52.1% | 32.0 million | 2024 |
| Received treatment (SMI) | 70.8% | 10.3 million | 2024 |
Source: SAMHSA, 2024 NSDUH (SAMHSA, 2024).
Explore the full picture on the any mental illness and serious mental illness pillars, or the young adults population page.
Depression
Major depression is among the most common mental illnesses in the country. In 2024, 8.2% of adults — 21.4 million people — had at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year, and 5.6% (14.7 million) had an episode with severe impairment (SAMHSA, 2024). By sex and age, the most recent NIMH breakdown (2021 data) shows the familiar pattern: women 10.3% versus men 6.2%, with the highest rate among young adults ages 18–25 (18.6%), falling to 4.5% among adults 50 and older (NIMH, 2021).
Adolescents carry a strikingly high burden. Among 12–17-year-olds, 15.4% (3.8 million) had a past-year major depressive episode in 2024 — down from a pandemic-era peak of 20.8% (5.2 million) in 2021 (SAMHSA, 2024). Even so, 11.3% of adolescents (2.8 million) had an episode with severe impairment.
A separate, distinct measure often gets conflated with the numbers above and shouldn’t be. The CDC’s NHANES program uses the PHQ-9 to screen for depression symptoms in the prior two weeks, and found 13.1% of people age 12 and older screened positive between August 2021 and August 2023 — highest among adolescents 12–19 (19.2%) and higher in females (16.0%) than males (10.1%) (CDC, 2023). That is a symptom screen over two weeks, not the same as the diagnostic past-year MDE from NSDUH (8.2%); the two use different instruments and populations and should be read side by side, not merged.
For the deeper dives, see how many people have depression, the full depression statistics 2026 roundup, and the depression pillar.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are widely cited as the most common class of mental illness, but the headline diagnostic figure is old. The most-quoted prevalence — 19.1% of adults with any anxiety disorder in the past year, and 31.1% across the lifetime — comes from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), whose data were collected in 2001–2003 (NCS-R, 2001–2003). In that survey, past-year prevalence was higher in women (23.4%) than men (14.3%), and specific phobia (9.1%) and social anxiety disorder (7.1%) were the most common subtypes.
The only current national anxiety measure is a symptom screen, not a diagnosis. Using the GAD-7, the 2024 NSDUH found 7.4% of adults (19.4 million) had moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms in the prior two weeks; among adolescents 12–17, the figure was 18.8% (4.9 million) (SAMHSA, 2024). Because it captures recent symptoms rather than a diagnosed disorder, it is not directly comparable to the NCS-R prevalence figures.
| Anxiety measure | Figure | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Any anxiety disorder, past-year (diagnostic) | 19.1% | NCS-R, 2001–2003 |
| Any anxiety disorder, lifetime (diagnostic) | 31.1% | NCS-R, 2001–2003 |
| Moderate/severe anxiety symptoms, adults (screen) | 7.4% (19.4M) | NSDUH, 2024 |
| Moderate/severe anxiety symptoms, teens (screen) | 18.8% (4.9M) | NSDUH, 2024 |
Read more in how many people have anxiety, the full anxiety statistics 2026 roundup, and the anxiety pillar.
Suicide
In 2024, 48,824 people died by suicide in the United States, an age-adjusted rate of 13.7 per 100,000 (CDC, 2024). Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall in 2023, and the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10–14, 15–24, and 25–34 (CDC, 2023). Firearms account for the largest share of suicide deaths — more than half (roughly 55%) in 2023.
The full national breakdown — the 20-year trend, methods, and how the burden differs by sex, age, race, and state — is covered in our suicide statistics in the US article and the suicide deaths pillar.
Substance Use
Substance use disorders (SUD) affect a large share of the population. In 2024, 16.8% of people age 12 and older — 48.4 million — had a past-year SUD (SAMHSA, 2024). Alcohol use disorder accounted for 27.9 million (9.7%) and drug use disorder for 28.2 million (9.8%), with cannabis use disorder the single largest drug category at 20.6 million (7.1%). Mental illness and substance use frequently co-occur: 21.2 million adults (8.1%) had both AMI and a SUD in the past year.
The substance use treatment gap is even wider than for mental illness. Of the 48.4 million people with a SUD, only 12.3% (5.9 million) received substance use treatment; 87.7% (42.4 million) did not (SAMHSA, 2024).
The clearest good news in this year’s data is on overdose. Finalized figures put drug overdose deaths at 79,384 in 2024 (age-adjusted rate 23.1 per 100,000) — down 26.2% from 105,007 in 2023, the largest single-year decline on record (CDC, 2024). Deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl fell even faster, from 72,776 to 47,735 (down 35.6%). Provisional data for 2025 suggest the decline continued, with 69,973 overdose deaths (about 14% below 2024), though these figures are provisional and subject to revision (CDC, 2025, provisional).
| Substance use measure (12+) | Percent | Number | Data year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance use disorder (SUD) | 16.8% | 48.4 million | 2024 |
| Alcohol use disorder | 9.7% | 27.9 million | 2024 |
| Drug use disorder | 9.8% | 28.2 million | 2024 |
| Received SUD treatment | 12.3% | 5.9 million | 2024 |
| Drug overdose deaths | — | 79,384 | 2024 (final) |
Source: SAMHSA, 2024 NSDUH; CDC/NCHS overdose data (SAMHSA, 2024; CDC, 2024).
For the deeper analysis, see the substance abuse statistics 2026 roundup, the state-level opioid crisis by state breakdown, and the substance use disorder pillar.
Youth Mental Health
Young people warrant their own section because their numbers run well above the adult baseline. Beyond the 15.4% adolescent depression rate noted above, the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) found that 40% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless during the past year, 20% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9% attempted suicide (CDC, 2023). These are among the most-watched indicators of the youth mental health picture.
Dig into the full data in our youth mental health statistics article and the teens population page.
Global Context
The U.S. numbers sit within a much larger worldwide burden. According to the WHO’s Global Burden of Disease estimates for 2021, roughly 332 million people worldwide had depression and about 359 million had an anxiety disorder (WHO, 2021). Mental health conditions are a leading cause of disability globally, and the treatment gap is even wider in many lower-income countries than in the United States.
The Treatment Gap
The single thread running through nearly every section above is that having a condition and getting care are two very different things. Roughly half of adults with a mental illness — and just one in eight people with a substance use disorder — receive treatment in a given year (SAMHSA, 2024). Barriers include cost, workforce shortages, stigma, and limited access in rural areas.
For a dedicated look at who gets care and who falls through, see our mental health treatment gap analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Americans have a mental illness?
In 2024, 23.4% of U.S. adults — about 61.5 million people — had any mental illness in the past year, and 5.6% (14.6 million) had a serious mental illness (SAMHSA, 2024). These are the most recent national figures, from the 2024 NSDUH released in 2025.
Are these 2026 mental health statistics from a 2026 survey?
No. They are the most recent numbers available as of 2026. The newest national survey is the 2024 NSDUH (released July 2025), and the newest finalized mortality data run through 2024. No 2026 national mental health survey exists yet.
What share of people with mental illness actually get treatment?
Just 52.1% of adults with any mental illness received treatment in the past year, rising to 70.8% for those with serious mental illness (SAMHSA, 2024). For substance use disorders the figure is far lower — only 12.3% of people with a SUD received treatment.
Did drug overdose deaths go down?
Yes. Finalized data show 79,384 overdose deaths in 2024, down 26.2% from 105,007 in 2023 — the largest single-year decline on record (CDC, 2024). Provisional 2025 data suggest the decline continued to roughly 69,973 deaths, though that figure is still provisional.
Why are the depression numbers different in different places?
They measure different things. The 8.2% adult figure is a past-year diagnostic major depressive episode from NSDUH, while the 13.1% figure is a two-week PHQ-9 symptom screen from NHANES (CDC, 2023). Different instruments and time frames produce different rates, so the two should not be combined.
What is the 988 Lifeline?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential service available 24/7 to anyone in the United States experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained counselor.
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Annual National Report. SAMHSA; 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2024-nsduh-annual-national-report
- National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Illness. NIMH; 2024 (2022 NSDUH data). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
- National Institute of Mental Health. Major Depression. NIMH; 2023. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. Any Anxiety Disorder. NIMH (NCS-R, 2001-2003). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2023-2024. NCHS Data Brief No. 549. CDC; 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db549.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Depression Prevalence in Adolescents and Adults, August 2021-August 2023. NCHS Data Brief No. 527. CDC; 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db527.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (2025). CDC; 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/releases/20260513.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Data and Statistics. CDC; 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/data/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Mental Health (Adolescent and School Health). CDC; 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/mental-health/index.html
- World Health Organization. Depressive disorder (depression). WHO; 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
- World Health Organization. Anxiety disorders. WHO; 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anxiety-disorders